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| ** THE Tri-Nations Cup is back in Australia's hands after a decade-long wait. |
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Radike Samo of the Wallabies makes a break during the Tri-Nations Bledisloe Cup match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium on August 27, 2011 in Brisbane, Australia.
( August 26, 2011 - Photos by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Wayne Smith
The Australian
It comes after the Wallabies produced one of their most courageous performances in years to defeat the All Blacks 25-20 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Whether the three tries to two victory is a pointer to next month’s World Cup only time will tell but what could be said with certainty was that the Wallabies dug deep into their reserves of grit and determination to match and ultimately subdue the No1 side in world rugby.
James Horwill let out a ferocious roar as English referee Wayne Barnes signalled fulltime and barely seven weeks after holding aloft the Super Rugby trophy on this same ground, he proudly began his reign as Wallabies captain by accepting the Tri- Nations Cup.
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It would be churlish to single out individual Wallabies, so heartily did all of them contribute to the win, but certainly the player who most warmed the hearts of the 51,858 spectators was Queensland number eight Radike Samo who capped his return to the starting side after a seven-year break by scoring a solo try midway through the first half.
Victor Vito of the All Blacks is tackled by Rocky Elsom (R) and Stephen Moore
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The Australian scrum, though under pressure throughout, held reasonably firm. Indeed, it performed better than did the lineout, but ultimately it was the ferocious defence of the Wallabies that secured only the third victory over the All Blacks in the 14 Bledisloe contests of the Robbie Deans era.
Still, this was a night for Deans to treasure and certainly his decision to select the biggest pack available proved a masterstroke in the wet conditions.
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Wallabies 25 All Blacks 20
Victor Vito of the All Blacks is tackled by Rocky Elsom
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Wallabies down All Blacks in Tri-Nations finale
The All Blacks Rugby World Cup preparations hit a snag in Brisbane as they went down 20-25 to the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.
In a major momentum-booster before next month's Rugby World Cup, the Wallabies set up their victory with a stunning first-half display, arguably their best ever under Robbie Deans, to lead 20-3 at halftime.
Radike Samo, 35, scored a bewildering breakout try and all his teammates tackled like demons to have the defending champions rattled at Suncorp Stadium.
But the All Blacks scored 17 points in as many minutes at the start of the second half to tie the match and have the Wallabies wobbling.
The normally composed and clinical Kiwis were flustered and regularly pressured into spilling the ball in the greasy conditions.
In contrast, the Wallabies' handling was superb after a full day of Brisbane drizzle.
-AAP
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Richie McCaw of the All Blacks on the charge
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Wallabies crowned Tri-Nations champs
Australia have won the Tri-Nations after a ten-year wait thanks to a 25-20 win over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
This is what Test rugby is all about!
The Wallabies outscored their visitors by three tries to two in what was a delicious hors d'oeuvre before the start of the Rugby World Cup.
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A first-half blitz from the hosts saw Robbie Deans' troops send the shell-shocked All Blacks into the half-time sheds 17 points behind (20-3).
However, just like clockwork, New Zealand bounced back after the break to level the scores and set up a thrilling finish to a pulsating Tri-Nations decider.
But just as it seemed the visitors were going to seize the game by the scruff of the neck, a piece of brilliance by Australia's scrum-half Will Genia created the decisive try for Kurtley Beale.
The pace and physicallity of the game took its toll on the All Blacks' loose trio, who all required some attention before number eight Kieran Read called it a day and limped off the pitch as Adam Thomson recieved some heavy strapping to his left elbow.
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