Berrick Barnes of the Wallabies is tackled during the International Rugby Test match between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Allianz Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
Pat McCabe of the Wallabies is tackled during the International Rugby Test match between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Allianz Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
For the second time in as many weeks Australia needed a late penalty to edge past Wales, winning 20-19 in an engrossing clash in Sydney.
Berrick Barnes landed a penalty five minutes from full-time to break Welsh hearts after yet another spirited display from the visitors.
Kurtley Beale of the Wallabies looks to pass during the International Rugby Test match between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Allianz Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
(June 22, 2012 - Source: Mark Nolan/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Man of the match: Try-scorer Ryan Jones and Jonathan Davies had strong games for the Welsh. A mention too for Barnes, who was near faultless from the kicking tee and landed the winning points with a cool swing of the leg. But we'll go for Wallaby skipper David Pocock who was a constant thorn in the side of the Welshman at the breakdown.
Moment of the match: The TMO made big call when he awarded Rob Horne's try. At first glance it looked like the centre lost control in act of going over. It would have ben extremely harsh to deny the try and, in the end, it turned out be a game-changing decision...
Sam Cane of the All Blacks scores his first test try during the International Test Match between New Zealand and Ireland at Waikato Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Hamilton, New Zealand.
New Zealand bounced back from last week's close call in style with an impressive 60-0 hammering of Ireland in Hamilton on Saturday.
After the heartbreakingly narrow defeat of last week, Ireland were no match for the effervescent All Blacks, who scored four tries in the first 25 minutes and looked dangerous at every turn. Dominated at the tackle - most unlike the Irish - and shredded out wide, the Irish just could not muster the spirit or precision of last week and were plain annihilated.
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Fergus McFadden of Ireland is tackled during the International Test Match between New Zealand and Ireland at Waikato Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Man of the match: Aaron Cruden was putting in a good claim for this until he went off after 25 minutes, Sonny Bill Williams dominated the centres, but it was Sam Cane whose domination in the loose created the space for his team-mates outside, and brace of tries gave his side a commanding lead.
Moment of the match: The fourth try. As exciting as it was clinical, it was curtains for Ireland after that.
Villain of the match: He reffed well, but for a really poor moment of judgement, refereeRomain Poite gets this for the yellow card he dished out to Rob Kearney. Brian O'Driscoll called it 'ridiculous'. He was right.
Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks makes a break during the International Test Match between New Zealand and Ireland at Waikato Stadium on June 23, 2012 in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Thomas Waldrom of England is tackled by Francois Hougaard during the second test
match between South Africa and England at Ellis Park on June 16, 2012 in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)
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Boks seal series in Johannesburg
South Africa became the third nation from the south to prematurely wrap up their series after they edged England 36-27 in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Pierre Spies of South Africa takes takes on Toby Flood during the second test
match between South Africa and England at Ellis Park on June 16, 2012 in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: David Rogers/Getty Images Europe)
Berrick Barnes of the Wallabies breaks passed the defence during the
International Test Match between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Etihad
Stadium on June 16, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Australia's replacement pivot Mike Harris killed off Wales' hopes of keeping their Test series alive after slotting a last-gasp penalty kick to steal a 25-23 win in Melbourne.
It was a sad case of close but no cigar for the Welsh who came within seconds of winning Down Under for the first time in 43 years and set up a series decider.
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Nathan Sharpe of the Wallabies is tackled.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
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However, Harris - on for Berrick Barnes - was called upon to provide the killer blow for the Wallabies after a maul was ruled to have been dragged down and Australia's New Zealand-born super sub didn't disappoint.
The defeat left a devasted Wales outfit once again reflecting on a golden chance gone begging in a thrilling encounter that saw the lead change hands nine times as the match went down to the wire.
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Digby Ioane of the Wallabies takes a high ball. (
June 15, 2012 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
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Man of the match: For Wales, Leigh Halfpenny kept his side in the hunt thanks to a flawless kicking display and perhaps would've been awarded this gong had Wales won. However, the official man of the match award went to new dad Berrick Barnes and it's hard to argue against it. Australia's number ten set up the Wallabies' only try of the match and contributed 17 points before being replaced.
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Moment of the match: We're pretty sure every pub in Wales now have a picture of Mike Harris on the bullseye of their dartboards following the replacement's match-winning kick in extra time.
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Villain of the match: Mike Harris - we were looking forward to seeing the series head into a decider next weekend! But we won't hold it against you... too much.
Berrick Barnes of the Wallabies looks to pass the ball during the International
Test Match between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Etihad Stadium on June
16, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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Oh, baby! Wallabies, Barnes will long remember June 16
At midday on Saturday, an emotionally drained Berrick Barnes was holding his newborn premature baby at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. Test football was the last thing on his mind.
Ten hours later in Melbourne, Barnes was surrounded by well-wishers - so appreciative of his central role in one of Australian rugby's most important recent Test triumphs.
In between, Barnes was involved in several white-knuckle taxi rides, had a ''quick kip'' on the Sydney-Melbourne flight, weaved his way between several trams on Collins Street to get to the team meeting on time, booted through 17 points, set up the best try in the Test, started hobbling ''like a bullrider'' when his leg cramped up, missed a shot that could have lost the Wallabies the game, was announced the man of the match, and then witnessed from the sideline his replacement Mike Harris finish this most exceptional of days off by kicking the winning penalty. No one, not even master Hollywood scriptwriter William Goldman, could have conjured this.
Rob Horne of the Wallabies is tackled during the International Test Match
between the Australian Wallabies and Wales at Etihad Stadium on June 16, 2012 in
Melbourne, Australia.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland is tackled by Dan Carter of the All Blacks during
the International Test Match between New Zealand and Ireland at AMI Stadium on
June 16, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source:All Photos: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)
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All Blacks: To the last drop Irish were a real test
New Zealand 22 Ireland 19 They reckon the Irish are lucky. They're bloody well not. Has there been a crueller defeat in recent times? The men in green had the All Blacks on a plate - beaten up, shell-shocked, panicking and looking decidedly unlike world champions. At 19-19 and with the All Blacks reduced to 14 men thanks to an act of lunacy by Israel Dagg, this game was Ireland's - and maybe would have been had Jonny Sexton not got underneath a long-range penalty, or if referee Nigel Owens had given a scrum penalty when it looked like the All Blacks had infringed. But Ireland have a legacy of hard luck stories and this was another. They couldn't close out and to the credit of the All Blacks, they held their composure in the last three minutes to let Daniel Carter drop the winning goal at the second attempt.
Dan Carter of the All Blacks kicks the winning drop goal ** It was a victory the All Blacks scarcely deserved. Having whacked Ireland with a big stick last week, the All Blacks encountered a more dangerous and lively foe last night - one that pushed them hard and derailed any growing sense of superiority. This was proper test match football: rugby with bite, a passionate crowd and two sides surprisingly evenly matched. Ireland were good. They were strong in all the areas where they were weak in the first test and they grew in confidence. Their scrum, an eggshell in Auckland, won penalties in Christchurch and there was some attacking venom left in Brian O'Driscoll.
Connor Murray of Ireland scores ** The All Blacks' performance dipped the other way. The control and precision that was the hallmark of opening night was never really there. They couldn't play with the same tempo; couldn't feed off Ireland's mistakes, because they didn't make many; and for long periods couldn't find their rhythm or win the gainline battle. The mistakes added up. The scrum creaked some more and the injuries mounted for the All Blacks. Uncertain faces looked around for leadership and didn't always get it. Ali Williams, there to use his experience, conceded a penalty which would bring the scores level and then mouthed off to bring it forward 10 metres. His presence merely highlighted how much the All Blacks missed Kieran Read. Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder claimed earlier this year that Read was the best player on the planet. After last night, it would be hard to doubt that.
Kieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled by Kevin McLaughlin of Ireland ** Whenever the All Blacks needed a runner to smash it up, Read was on hand. Whenever they needed a big tackle, Read would make it. He didn't return for the second half - suffering a head knock just as he did last week - and there will be a level of concern, not so much about whether he will be fit for next week, but whether he will now be facing an extended stint on the sidelines.
The upside, if it can be called that, was that Read's departure enabled the All Blacks to get debutant Sam Cane on earlier than they had planned. The instructions to Cane were simple - get stuck in. He wasn't shy. There was purpose and drive in his ball-carrying and he had a fair idea where the ball was. read the whole thing here, with video: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10813521
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A scrum is formed during the International Test Match between New Zealand and
Ireland at AMI Stadium on June 16, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
** Ireland turned up the heat in freezing conditions to push New Zealand all the way, before eventually succumbing to a 22-19 defeat in Christchurch on Saturday.
With the scores level at 19-19 and one minute remaining in the match, All Blacks pivot Dan Carter broke Irish hearts with a last-gasp drop goal to win the game and the series.
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It was a valiant effort from the visitors, who led the world champions by one point (9-10) at half-time, but were left playing catch-up following an early try to Aaron Smith two minutes after the break.* But the men in green managed to claw their way back and when All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg was yellow-carded in the 72nd minute, Ireland were presented with a golden opportunity to retake the lead from 49m out. However, Jonathan Sexton's attempt had the direction but not the distance as the ball fell agonisingly short. From there the hosts put themselves into a position to set up Carter for the match-winning drop.
Andrew Hore of the All Blacks makes a break. ** Man of the match: For New Zealand, Dan Carter was obviously the man of the moment thanks to his match-winning drop-goal. But it's hard to look past the gallant Irish who silenced their critics with a superb effort that came within fractions of the most famous Irish win in history against the world champions. And it's for that reason why we've opted for a collective award to the entire Ireland team. * Moment of the match: With 40 seconds of the match remaining, it has to be Carter's winning drop goal. * Villain of the match: Israel Dagg's brain implosion that so nearly cost his team defeat. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7816544,00.html ***
Richie McCaw of the All Blacks **
A general view of AMI Stadium at the start of the International Test Match
between New Zealand and Ireland at AMI Stadium on June 16, 2012 in Christchurch,
New Zealand.
(
June 15, 2012 - Source: Martin Hunter/Getty Images AsiaPac)
