All Blacks clinch Bledisloe whitewash in Tokyo

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The All Blacks have kicked off their end of season tour with a hard-earned 32-19 win over Australia in Tokyo on Saturday night.

The year hasn't been the best for New Zealand but the victory clinches a 4-0 whitewash over Robbie Deans' charges in 2009 and piles the pressure on the embattled Wallabies' coach.

The Australians took advantage of some early indiscipline to take the lead but the All Blacks always looked more dangerous with the ball in hand.

A brilliant try to Sitiveni Sivivatu put New Zealand into the lead but he quickly went from hero to villian after he was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.

The Wallabies used the extra man well and, although there was some controversy over the award, a Peter Hynes try gave them the advantage at the break.

But once again the All Blacks dominated the second half of a Bledisloe Cup test and a great try to Conrad Smith combined with Daniel Carter's peerless kicking meant there was only going to be one winner.

And there was a sign right at the start it may not have been Australia's night.

Rocky Elsom had a less than auspicious start to his captaincy reign when he dropped the ball cold in midfield although the All Blacks couldn't take advantage.

A break from Will Genia after referee Mark Lawrence ignored hands all over the ball in a ruck then set up the Wallabies for the opening score.

Fullback James O'Connor took Genia's pass and got close to the line but the All Blacks were pinged for slowing the ball down and Giteau converted from wide right.

The ball appeared to be a bit greasy and it was then Richie McCaw's turn to cough up the pill after a good run by Carter looked to have the Wallabies struggling.

Giteau landed his second penalty as the Wallabies got a lucky break from a lineout and Adam Thomson was pinged for handling on the ground but Daniel Carter soon replied.

The Wallabies were being much more physical in the rucks than last time out in Wellington and the All Blacks were struggling to get quick breakdown ball.

A turnover then allowed New Zealand to push deep into Australian territory but Carter's sharp kick into the corner was well defended and the ball was cleared.

But the try was coming and when it did it was a superb flowing effort with some great handling.

An attacking ruck in the twenty-two was spun left by Cowan and a brilliant inside ball from McCaw to Tom Donnelly split the defence.

Mils Muliaina took the ball on and then found McCaw supporting once more and his final pass found Sitiveni Sivivatu in space and the winger scored in the corner. Carter converted.

The All Blacks finally started to get the breakdown right and turned the ball over on their own line as the Wallabies threatened but the resulting break from Cory Jane ended because the flying winger lacked support.

Adam Thomson was making a nuisance of himself at the lineout but he handed Giteau another three points when he was pinged again at the breakdown.

Carter hit back straight away when referee Lawrence penalised the Australians for wheeling a scrum but in the next phase of play the Wallabies were handed the advantage.

A Jimmy Cowan box-kick from the kick-off went high and when Adam Ashley-Cooper attacked the ball in the air Sivivatu took him out and was deservedly yellow-carded.

And the Australians used the extra man immediately when Hynes scored in the corner - although there was a great deal of controversy over the try.

Hynes looked like he grounded the ball before the line and then knocked it on but replays proved inconclusive.

With the TMO taking an age to make a call referee Lawrence decided he had had enough and awarded the try anyway. Giteau converted.

The Aussies sensed blood and then came close to scoring again, but a brilliant tackle on the line from Jimmy Cowan denied Wycliff Palu.

The half ended with the Wallabies attacking but a final knock-on brought the first 40 minutes to a halt with no further damage.

The All Blacks were denied at the start of the second period when Muliaina's run obstructed the defenders after Ma'a Nonu freed up Conrad Smith but the try wasn't long in coming.

In his first action since coming back onto the park Sivivatu booted the ball deep and the All Blacks did well to get the ball back after the lineout.

The ball was spread wide, Cory Jane did brilliantly to draw two defenders and offload to Smith and the classy centre broke some poor tackling to score. Carter converted.

The Wallabies hit back straight away and Palu got close to the line but knocked it on under pressure from Nonu and the danger was gone.

Sivivatu then came close to making amends for his spell on the sidelines but a covering tackle from David Pocock knocked the ball out as the try-line beckoned.

New Zealand was denied again when the ball was adjudged to have been knocked on just before it was touched down, but an infringement from the resultant scrum gave Carter his third penalty.

The game then got a bit scrappy with both teams making mistakes, and it was a poor Ashley-Cooper bomb which led to the next points.

The Wallabies made no attempt to get back onside from the kick and Carter made no mistake from out front, bringing up his 200th test points against Australia in the process.

Giteau cut the lead to seven points with just under 10 minutes left in the match after Andrew Hore was pinged at the breakdown but Carter immediately slotted his fifth and the game was virtually done.

Carter added another three points with the clock ticking down and while Australia pushed for a consolation try the defence held strong.

A few flying fists and a kick to touch from Cowan ended the contest and the All Blacks can head to Europe tomorrow on a high.

All Blacks 32 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith tries; Daniel Carter 6 pens, 2 cons)
Australia 19 (Peter Hynes try; Matt Giteau 4 pens, con)

H/T: 13-16