Australia 25 New Zealand 20:NEW ZEALAND egos and the bookies' odds may already be damaged, but the favourites for the World Cup will learn today whether they have to call up two thirds of a new backrow before they go into the competition.
By then the All Blacks will have the results of scans on the flanker Adam Thomson’s hyper-extended elbow and Kieran Read’s damaged ankle, with the coach, Graham Henry, admitting Thomson looks a doubt and that he was considering calling up the Waikato loose forward Liam Messam.
Losing either player would be a blow to the All Blacks, who went into their match in Brisbane on Saturday with something close to the side they had hoped would start the World Cup against Tonga in Auckland. To lose both would mean the end of a partnership seen as key to New Zealand success in their own backyard.
Henry was particularly downbeat about Thomson’s chances. “It doesn’t look good,” he said after the defeat that gave Australia their first Tri-Nations title in a decade. “They’re a concern obviously. Those guys will be getting scanned as soon as possible. We’re pretty positive about Kieran, the doctor thinks he’ll be able to play in the World Cup. There may be a slow start, but I’m only speculating.”
By half-time the All Blacks were reeling and 17 points down to an Australian side determined on a muscular route from the start. The Wallabies pounded away until a huge gap opened up for their scrumhalf Will Genia.
Faced with such aggression, the All Blacks were flustered and started missing tackles: 15 by half-time, the most obvious when Thomson was brushed off by Radike Samo who went 60 metres to score. The All Blacks hit back with two tries after the break, but the game was put beyond them when Genia sliced through, Digby Ioane provided the link, and Adam Ashley-Cooper went over, leaving both coaches to insist the result had no relevance to upcoming matters in New Zealand.
AUSTRALIA: Beale; Ashley-Cooper, A Fainga’a, McCabe, Ioane; Cooper, Genia (Burgess 75); Kepu (Ma’afu 75), Moore (S Fainga’a 75), Alexander, Vickerman (Simmons 56), Horwill (capt), Elsom (Higginbotham 70), Pocock, Samo (McCalman 64). Scorers – Tries: Genia, Samo, Ashley-Cooper; Cons: Cooper 2; Pens: Cooper 2.
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Jane, Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, Guildford (Toeva 56); Carter, Weepu (Ellis 63); Woodcock, Mealamu (Hore 73), O Franks (Afoa 73), Whitelock, Thorn, Thomson (Williams 37),McCaw, Read (Vito 12). Scorers – Tries: Smith, Nonu; Cons: Carter 2; Pens: Carter 2.
Referee: W Barnes (Eng)
