NEW ZEALAND, faced with the prospect of a third successive defeat for the first time in a decade, proved that a week is a long time in rugby when they comprehensively dismantled Australia in Auckland yesterday, avenging their 34-19 drubbing in Sydney seven days earlier and keeping their Bledisloe Cup hopes alive. In the process they not only bailed their besieged coach, Graham Henry, out of the tightest of corners, they also had the satisfaction of inflicting the first defeat in six Tests on his Wallaby nemesis, Robbie Deans.

Australia did not get a look in as New Zealand outplayed them in all departments and this time made the most of their possession, with the half-back combination of Jimmy Cowan and Dan Carter kicking with pinpoint accuracy. The home side were also buoyed by the return of Richie McCaw. Captain Fantastic gave New Zealand the grit and savvy at the breakdown that they had lacked in Sydney and the All Black pack followed his lead to put them on the front foot throughout. The All Blacks also succeeded in turning one of their weaknesses into a major strength by pilfering the Australian lineout at will. Ali Williams led the way as they stole six lineouts against the throw, as well as making much of Australia’s ball messy.

In the end, a four tries to one margin just about reflected New Zealand’s superiority – although they should count themselves very fortunate to have come away with a bonus point after Ma’a Nonu was awarded a dubious try on the stroke of full-time. It put them on top of the TriNations table, but there seemed little doubt that Nonu had lost control of the ball in the act of touching down. How the television match official deemed he had control is hard to fathom and it was not the only example of poor officiating. In the first half New Zealand had taken a commanding early lead when prop Tony Woodcock had been awarded the second of his brace of tries after the All Blacks had been given a lineout that should definitely have gone Australia’s way.

Australia had begun strongly and took the lead with a Matt Giteau penalty, but it proved to be a false register. The fired-up All Blacks drew level with a Carter penalty and from there the Wallabies came a distant second. After New Zealand had wreaked havoc at three successive Australian lineouts, Carter kicked a second penalty to push them out to 6-3, before New Zealand went for the jugular.

After an Australian lineout throw had failed to go five metres, New Zealand opted for a scrum deep in the Australian 22 and when Nonu made the first breach, Jerome Kaino was held up just short of the Wallaby line. Rodney So’oialo fed Woodcock from the ruck and the prop scored from two metres out, Carter converting for a 13-3 lead midway through the half. Three minutes later, Woodcock became the first All Black prop to score a brace of tries against the Wallabies since Wilson Whineray half a century ago when he smashed over from a well-crafted lineout move that saw Williams pop the throw down to Woodcock, who brushed aside Luke Burgess and James Horwill to score.

The controversy came because the superb kick to the corner by Cowan was still rolling when Adam Ashley-Cooper deliberately put a foot into touch before fielding the ball. The law book says it should have been an Australian throw, but, instead, it was New Zealand – and Woodcock – who made hay, taking an 18-3 lead with 23 minutes played.

Australia forced their way back into the match with a beautifully taken set-piece try. An off-the-top lineout deflection by Dan Vickerman (on as a blood replacement for Nathan Sharpe) was flicked down the line and a superb pass by Giteau gave Stirling Mortlock the beating of Conrad Smith, and the Australian captain fed Ashley-Cooper the scoring pass. Giteau’s conversion narrowed the gap to 18-10. However, Australia were soon under the cosh again and when George Smith was penalised at a ruck, Carter kicked his third penalty to give the All Blacks a 21-10 lead at the interval.

The game was up for the visitors when, three minutes into the second half, Nonu made the crucial breakthrough. The All Black pack made a mess of an Australian lineout and Andrew Hore scrambled the ball along the line. Nonu fed Sitiveni Sivi-vatu and then backed up on the inside to take a reverse flip and crash through to score.

Carter’s conversion made it 28-10 and he kicked two penalties on either side of the hour-mark to put the result beyond doubt at 34-10. Nonu’s second try rammed home this emphatic win, and New Zealand move on to Cape Town in a fortnight with confidence, and momentum, restored.

Star man:T Woodcock (New Zealand)

Referee:M Lawrence (South Africa)

NEW ZEALAND:M Muliaina; R Kahui (S Donald 75min), C Smith (A Tuitavake 69min), M Nonu, S Sivivatu; D Carter, J Cowan (P Weepu 74min); T Woodcock, A Hore (K Mealamu 67min), G Somerville (J Afoa 59min), B Thorn (A Boric 79min), A Williams, J Kaino (A Thomson 75min), R So’oialo, R McCaw (capt).

AUSTRALIA:A Ashley-Cooper (D Mitchell 41min); P Hynes, S Mortlock (capt), B Barnes (R Cross 75min), L Tuqiri; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore (T Polota-Nau 52min), A Baxter, J Horwill, N Sharpe (D Vickerman 52min), P Waugh (H McMeniman 59min), W Palu, G Smith.