Boks record solid win in Cardiff

Four tries to one for South Africa

South Africa, despite being reduced to 14 men for about 20 minutes, managed to record a 33-16 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.  The Boks outscored the Six Nations champions by four tries to one.

It was a strange match in many ways.  Millennium Stadium had a threadbare look and was slippery.  That did not help the players.  Wales's tight five beat the heavier South African tight five which was supposed to be the side's strength.

And then there were the two yellow cards for Percy Montgomery.  Two yellow cards equals a red card and the veteran Springbok was sent off.  His first yellow card was for lifting a player in the tackle -- a joke in the context of what happened recently in this regard.  His second yellow card was for a high tackle on Shane Williams as the little wing headed for the corner.  Both decisions were made by the touch judge.  They seemed inappropriate.  There was also a yellow card for Welsh prop Chris Horsman -- for punching, also on a touch judge's report.

It seemed to be a weekend when yellow cards became a rash.

Other than in the line-out the Welsh tight five mastered the Springboks, taking a vital tighthead five metres form their line and twice destroying the Springbok maul from line-outs close to their line.

The South Africans were better at loose forward, where Juan Smit and Schalk Burger stood out.

The jury is probably still out about the Springbok halves, two young players making their way into international rugby and obviously players of promise.

After new cap Meyer Bosman had kicked off the Springboks looked to be about to dominate, but the brave Welsh -- patchwork team and all -- fought back bravely.  They stood up to the Springboks in the mauls, won a crucial tighthead at a five-metre scrum and twice got on the outside of the rush defence to produce promising overlaps

The Springboks scored the only try of the first half, but Percy Montgomery missed two penalty kicks at goal -- one that was way wide -- and once a brilliant tackle by Martyn Williams held massive CJ van der Linde over the line.  On another occasion Jaque Fourie sped through off a short pass from Jean de Villiers, but was called back for a forward pass.

After Montgomery had goaled a penalty in the second minute and Bosman broke past Stephen Jones, the Springboks got a splendid try as they won one fast ball after another in phase after phase and De Villiers threw a long pass to his left.  Bryan Habana caught the pass and sped over for a try in the corner.

That made it 8-0.

Matfield was penalised and Stephen Jones made it 8-3.  Colin Charvis was penalised and Montgomery made it 11-3.  Montgomery was penalised for a silly tackle and Stephen Jones made it 11-6.

The Springboks scored first in the second half.  They drove a line-out on their left and Van der Linde had a charge.  Back came quick ball and long passes to the left gave Habana his second clear run at the line.  Montgomery's conversion attempt swerved off to the right and may not have reached the goal-line.

From the kick-off the Springboks were penalised and Stephen Jones made it 16-9.

The Springboks attacked bravely, but again Welsh pressure spoilt their ambitions at a five-metre scrum in midfield.

It was at this time that Montgomery was given a yellow card and Horsman one soon afterwards.

The third Springbok try had jam on it.  Habana charged down the right and kicked ahead into the Welsh in-goal.  Sonny Parker, slipping, could not control the slithering ball and Conrad Jantjes got a try right in the corner.

Montgomery off, Bosman converted from touch, in off the upright -- for his first international points.  That made it 23-9.

Montgomery came back to make it 26-9, but he had no lasting stay and was sent off for the high tackle.

At this stage the Welsh were attacking over and over.  The referee kept playing advantage after advantage as the Springboks made mindless attempts to stop the try -- which came when Keri Sweeney accepted a clever inside pass and surged over for a try close in.  Stephen Jones converted and there were seven minutes to go, enough time to set Welsh hopes soaring.

Instead the Springboks had the last say as they battered at the Welsh line and replacement lock Danie Rossouw, tackled, placed the ball over the line for the try.  Bosman converted and the final whistle went.

Man of the Match:  Gareth Thomas and for Wales was all things strong and calm and Stephen Jones in his 50th appearance for his country was again all calm efficiency.  For South Africa there were choices -- Bryan Habana who scored two and made one, big Bakkies Botha, energetic Schalk Burger and our Man of the Match -- Juan Smith on the flank who was so good in the line-out and with the ball in hand.

Moment of the Match:  Just possibly Juan Smith's hand-off of Colin Charvis.

Villain of the Match:  Resisting all temptations to go beyond the players on the field, we have to look to the two cards -- Percy Montgomery and Chris Horsman.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Try:  Sweeney
Con:  S Jones
Pens:  S Jones 3

For South Africa:
Tries:  Habana 2, Jantjes, Rossouw
Cons:  Bosman 2
Pens:  Montgomery 3

Yellow cards:  Percy Montgomery (South Africa, 52), Chris Horsman (Wales, 53)
Red card:  Percy Montgomery (South Africa, 71)

The teams:

Wales:  15 Lee Byrne (Ceri Sweeney, 65), 14 Dafydd James, 13 Gareth Thomas (captain)(Ceri Sweeney, 55-65), 12 Sonny Parker (Matthew Watkins, 68), 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper (Mike Phillips, 75), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Colin Charvis (Adam Jones, 57-63), 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Chris Horsman (Adam Jones, 9-15), 2 Rhys Thomas (Mefin Davies, 70), 1 Duncan Jones.
Unused replacements:  18 Ian Gough, 19 Jonathan Thomas.

Springboks:  15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers (De Wet Barry, 75), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha (Danie Rossouw, 71), 3 CJ van der Linde (Lawrence Sephaka, 75), 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Lawrence Sephaka (Os du Randt, 35).
Unused replacements:  16 Hanyani Shimange, 18 Albert van den Berg, 20 Bolla Conradie, 22 Brent Russell.

Referee:  Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges:  Dave Pearson (England), Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Television match official:  Roy Maybank (England)

Michalak conducts French blitz

Seven tries for fluid French in Nantes

France breezed their way past a muscular but clumsy Canadian resistance in Nantes on Saturday, scoring seven tries in their 50-6 win.

It is difficult to know what is Bernard Laporte's first-choice team these days, as he seems to have so many players available in each position and able to do a job.  This French team was missing several established faces, but with Frédéric Michalak pulling the strings in his own inimitable style, they looked very much a finished product, both up front and in the backs.  If and when Laporte does find the XV that are a step above the rest and manages to get them all healthy, disciplined and on form, South Africa and the All Blacks will have another rival for that rugby World Cup 'favourites' tag.

Canada, for their part, offered game resistance, and this was certainly an improvement on the 70-0 drubbing inflicted upon them by England last year.  The Churchill Cup encounters over the summer appear to be succeeding in developing the team and the players, and the Canucks should move on to Bucharest this week taking positives from this game rather than ruminating on the result.

It took France 20 minutes to score their first try, during which time Dimitri Yachvili had nosed them in front with two early penalties.  Michalak kicked a close penalty to touch, and the pack drove Julien Bonnaire over in textbook fashion.

Yachvili sliced the conversion horribly from that try, but made no mistake after a wonderful solo effort from Michalak after 25 minutes.  Michalak dummied one way, then the other, then used the acceleration that most people forget he has to slice through the gap for the try.

Michalak's opposite number Ed Fairhurst was sin-binned for a high tackle during the build-up to Michalak's try, but the Canadians began to play a little and forced their way into the French 22 three times.  Finally Mike Webb got them on the board with a penalty.

France bounced back with another terrific try, with David Marty taking an up and under, off-loading to Thomas Castaignède, who switched with Jauzion.  Jauzion then drew his man brilliantly before handing on to Marty for an easy finish.

Castaignède, clearly revelling in his re-discovered international role, capped off his return to the France XV with a cracking try one minute into the second half.  Michalak was once again the architect, looping round his three-quarters before bursting through the gap to feed Castaignède.

Derek Daypuck kept Canada faintly in touch with a further penalty, but a try by Sebastian Bruno took the French even further ahead, after Yachvili and Michalak had created a gap with a crisp one-two.

That try killed the game as a contest, and the roll of substitutions interrupted the rhythm even further.  Bonnaire notched his second try after supporting Aurelien Rougerie's clean break, and in the final move of the game, Pierre Mignoni snatched a try off the base of a scrum to bring the fifty up for France.

The scorers:

For France:
Tries:  Bonnaire 2, Michalak, Marty, Castaignède, Bruno, Mignoni
Cons:  Yachvili 2, Michalak
Pens:  Yachvili 2, Michalak

For Canada:
Pens:  Webb, Daypuck

France:  15 Thomas Castaignède, 14 Aurélien Rougerie, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Rémy Martin, 7 Thomas Lièvremont, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Jèrôme Thion (c), 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Pieter De Villiers, 2 Sébastien Bruno, 1 Sylvain Marconnet.
Replacements:  16 Raphael Ibanez, 17 Olivier Milloud, 18 Gregory Lamboley, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Pierre Mignoni, 21 Yann Delaigue, 22 Julien Laharrague.

Canada:  15 Derek Daypuck, 14 Mike Pyke, 13 Ryan Smith, 12 John Cannon, 11 Brodie Henderson, 10 Ed Fairhurst, 9 Morgan Williams, 8 Stan McKeen, 7 Aaron Carpenter, 6 Mike Webb, 5 Mike James (c), 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Garth Cooke, 2 Aaron Abrams, 1 Kevin Tkachuk.
Replacements:  16 Mark Lawson, 17 Casey Dunning, 18 Forrest Gainer, 19 Josh Jackson, 20 Adam Kleeberger, 21 Matt Weingart, 22 Ryan McWhinney.

Referee:  Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Daniel Jabase (Argentina)
Television match official:  Huw Watkins (Wales)

England muscle their way to victory

Cook Cup returns to Twickenham

England reclaimed the Cook Cup courtesy of a muscular 26-16 victory over Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, handing the Wallabies their seventh straight loss.

England's victory was based upon some good old disciplined forward power, something Eddie Jones just cannot find for love nor money at the moment.

Australia's scrum was smashed.  The only scrum the Wallabies had in the first half resulted in an England penalty, and that was just one of six penalties England squeezed out of the Wallaby scrum alone.  By comparison, England conceded six penalties during the whole match.

Andrew Sheridan turned in a magnificent performance not dissimilar to something Martin Johnson would once have produced.  At only 26 years old, he has a good six years left on the prop clock, and on this showing should very much be an integral part of Andy Robinson's long-term planning.  Both of his opposite numbers departed before the end of the match:  Al Baxter to a yellow card for collapsing a scrum, and Matt Dunning to a serious-looking neck injury.

The possession stats favoured England 70-30 at the end, which sounds convincing but given that information one wonders why the score was not as imbalanced.  Australia's defence was excellent, granted, but England could not turn pressure into points, which is something they will need to work on ahead of the All Blacks Test next weekend.  That Australia made so much of their meagre ration of possession is a testament to the adventure and strength of Chris Latham and Drew Mitchell at the back -- with young Mitchell once again looking very much the real deal.

"Land of Hope and Glory" boomed around the stadium tannoy at the kick-off in a dreadful attempt at creating some sort of partisan nationalist atmosphere, but in neither the rendition nor England's start to the game was there hope and glory to be found.

From the kick-off, Martin Corry dropped the ball, Charlie Hodgson missed touch, and Mark Cueto left the pitch with blood streaming from a head wound.  Chris Latham launched a dangerous counter attack from which Australia got a penalty for holding on, and Mat Rogers gave Australia an early lead.

Cueto's disappearance for a quick stitching allowed Mark van Gisbergen to win his first cap, and he played considerably better in the England shirt than he had done for Wasps in the past few weeks, but England collectively looked a little twitchy early on.

Australia looked much more composed, and twice could have had the early try.  A fabulous pass under pressure by George Smith set Drew Mitchell away down the left.  Mitchell feinted left and right, but couldn't make his mind up and was caught by an ice-cool Hodgson.

Then Chris Latham, a thorn in England's side that the men in white never quite removed, broke down the left, bursting through a Josh Lewsey tackle and handing off Mike Tindall with disdain before Hodgson once again dived to the rescue in the corner.  Australia would have had a try from the ensuing ruck, but Lewis Moody produced a truly ugly act of cynicism by not even pretending to play himself onside before tackling Tuqiri.  Moody departed to a yellow card and Rogers kicked a penalty, but there was a clear case for a penalty try.

Rogers' penalty made it 6-3 to Australia, with Charlie Hodgson having converted the first of the penalties conceded by the Wallabies at scrum-time.

From the restart after Rogers' kick, England re-gathered the ball and produced their first spell of genuinely good cohesive play, culminating in a deft Hodgson kick to the corner.  Latham cleared from the line-out ball, but could not find touch, and Australia were penalised for going off their feet.  Matt Dawson tapped quickly, but had barely caught the tap before he was tackled by George Gregan who, like Moody, didn't even pretend to retreat before bringing down the danger-man.

Gregan also departed to a yellow card -- there was a case for a penalty try here as well, although this incident was 5m further from the line -- but England looked to capitalise, and quickly did so with the opening score.

From the scrum, England ran through a simple back-row phase, and a crisp handling movement involving superb decoy running from Jamie Noon saw Ben Cohen in the corner with space to spare.

England dominated the ten minutes leading up to half-time, with all working parts of the machine running smoothly.  They might have had another try on the stroke of half-time but Latham was alert to Dawson's deft chip and got there before Mark Cueto, and it was 10-6 at the break.

The second half ran very much as the first had done.  Charlie Hodgson took the score to 13-6 with a drop goal, but Australia's willingness to attack saw England go off their feet in desperation and Rogers made it 13-9.

Hodgson extended the lead to seven again with another penalty, but England were still making too many mistakes when in control, and then they suffered a disaster.

The England line-out, which had been virtually flawless throughout, malfunctioned five metres from their own line.  Australia stole, worked it down the back-line, and although both Latham and Mitchell looked to have been initially repelled, Latham and Tuqiri's support drove Mitchell over for the try.  Rogers brought the scores level at 16-16 with the conversion.

Olly Barkley, on for a limping Hodgson, landed a 50m penalty to hand England the lead back, and then the scrum-smashing began in earnest.  Australia had already been forced to flip balls from the base in panic as England turned the screw, and when Mitchell spilled a high ball in front of England's posts, the eight in white came to the fore, hammering away at their opponents for nearly five minutes as Australia conceded a variety of penalties and handling errors.  The scrums were uncontested after the departure of Baxter and Dunning, but the England forwards had brought their opponents to their knees, and with five minutes remaining, Cueto darted through some flailing tackles for the clinching score.

Man of the match:  England prop Andrew Sheridan was magnificent.  Unstoppable in the loose and unshakeable in the tight, he turned in a truly mature international performance today.

Villain of the match:  England flank Lewis Moody and Wallaby skipper George Gregan.  Two cynical fouls denied us tries, a pet hate of ours.

Moment of the match:  Perhaps slightly obscure, but Chris Latham's early counter-attack from a missed touch clearance was magnificent, dodging three tackles and making fifty metres with some terrific strength and pace.

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Cohen, Cueto
Cons:  Hodgson, Barkley
Pens:  Hodgson 2, Barkley
Drop:  Hodgson

For Australia:
Tries:  Mitchell
Con:  Rogers
Pens:  Rogers 3

Yellow cards:  Moody (off-side, 15); Gregan (not retreating ten metres, 25); Baxter (collapsed scrum, 69).

The teams:

England:  15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Mark Cueto (Mark van Gisbergen, 1-5), 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson (Olly Barkley, 57), 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Martin Corry, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Pat Sanderson, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Unused replacements:  16 Lee Mears, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Louis Deacon, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Harry Ellis.

Australia:  15 Chris Latham (Matt Giteau, 40-45), 14 Mark Gerrard (Matt Giteau, 70), 13 Lote Tuqiri, 12 Morgan Turinui (Lloyd Johansson, 73), 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Mat Rogers, 9 George Gregan (Chris Whitaker, 65), 8 George Smith (Scott Fava, 77), 7 Phil Waugh, 6 John Roe, 5 Nathan Sharpe (Mark Chisholm, 46), 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 Al Baxter (Greg Holmes, 69-79), 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Matt Dunning (Tatafu Polota-Nau, 69).

Referee:  Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges:  Alain Rolland, Alan Lewis (both Ireland)
Television match official:  Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Awesome All Blacks smash Ireland

Kiwis take the game to new level at Lansdowne Road

New Zealand added new meaning to the word "awesome" when they hammered Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, scoring a convincing 45-7 win in the second match on their way to a possible "grand slam".  The tourists outscored the Irish by five tries to one.

New Zealand changed 15 players from the team that hammered Wales.  The changed team duly hammered Ireland, and the score would have been bigger had New Zealand not become just a little sloppy -- well, for them -- in the second half while Ireland burst into late life.

In fact the second half was not all that bad for Ireland -- just two tries to one, but the match as a contest was over by half-time.

New Zealand were simply better in every aspect of play -- the passing, the positioning, the kicking, the scrummaging, the tackling.  In anything that was obvious they were better.  In fact the All Black scrummaging finally buried the myth that said they could not scrum by shoving Ireland back metres on occasion.

The All Blacks really are the best around, and the clean sweep remains a distinct possibility.

After the fire, the sad North Terrace looked like a ravaged part of Baghdad.  This time the All Blacks had the last word in the pre-match ceremonies, for they performed their haka just before the kick-off.

Ronan O'Gara kicked off with the northwester behind Ireland, but the wind mattered not a bit as New Zealand dominated a one-sided half -- oh, except for a short burst of Irish attack just before the break.

The period of attack took them to the New Zealand line util Johnny O'Connor was tackled out right at the corner by Nick Evans.  Ireland won the ball off New Zealand at the line-out and attacked again.  New Zealand were penalised, five metres from their line and kickable, but Ireland opted to tap and play.  But it all fizzled out when O'Gara grubbered into the New Zealand in-goal and Leon MacDonald touched it down.

New Zealand dropped out.  Ireland got possession and the All Blacks were penalised, but O'Gara kicked the penalty dead, two mistakes in quick succession by the experienced fly-half.

Those were Ireland's best opportunities.  They came when New Zealand led 18-0 with another goal just before the break to make it 25-0.

Ireland actually started with the clear intent to spread the ball wide, creating a wonderful overlap -- All Black style -- for Tommy Bowe, but the Irish ball dried up as the calm, composed New Zealanders took charge.

In 1905 a journalist was praising the way the 15 New Zealanders played with the ball in hand.  He wanted to say that it was as if they were all backs.  A typing error made it All Blacks, hence the nickname.  The way the 2005 All Blacks played it was as if they were all backs -- 15 superb athletes with the confidence to run and pass.

Their first try was a matter of exquisite simplicity.  From a scrum Mose Tuiali'i went to the right and popped a hanging pass into the air.  Muscular, socks below bulging calves, Sitiveni Sivivatu burst onto the ball in midfield and simply strolled the 20 metres or so to the posts to plant the first try.  Nick Evans, whose boot was nigh impeccable on the sunny afternoon, converted.

The All Blacks ran freely -- prop Tony Woodcock on the break, Doug Howlett over from the right to play on the left, Leon MacDonald dummying and running -- and so on.

Sturdy scrum-half Piri Weepu got the second try, again from a scrum, this time after Ma'a Nonu had made the running.

When Evans kicked a penalty goal, the score was 15-0, the winning margin a century before, but not only 26 minutes had passed.

After another Evans penalty, Tuiali'i had a dummying run past three Irishmen down the right touch-line before giving to MacDonald.  The fullback gave to Sivivatu who ran comfortably straight for the posts.  Evans converted and the half-time score was 31-0.

New Zealand had chances to score tries, notably when the ball skidded into touch from Howlett's boot.

When the All Blacks attacked, wing Anthony Horgan intercepted but he did not get far before new young lock, Jason Eaton caught him from behind.

Then came a disappointing moment in view of all the controversy and emotion which emanated from the tackle that injured Brian O'Driscoll in the first Lions Test earlier in the year.  This time it was Nonu who lifted Gordon D'Arcy off his feet and the Irish centre came down heavily.

The Irish were cross and got their paddies up and got struck in.  They played some of their best rugby in the match from now on.  But it's not easy to score against the All Blacks and the visitors came back at them.

The television match official was able to advise that Howlett had put his right toes on the line in the act of scoring and then that Nonu had nudged the ball forward off his left thigh in trying to score what would have been a remarkable try.

Ireland were attacking but the ball fell free.  The powerhouse centre darted onto the ball and footed it ahead.  Surprisingly fast for such a prop-like man, he chased and got the ball swerving to his right as four Irishmen closed in.  Straightening he grubbered for the line, diving to collect it as he went over.  It took the television match official lots of looks and serious consideration before deciding that he had knocked on in grounding the ball.

New Zealand put pressure on Ireland who bravely tried to run out of deep defence, but a knock-on nearly led to a try to Howlett but O'Gara saved, conceding a five-metre scrum.

Then the All Blacks swept left.  Over from the right Howlett cut through, handed off D'Arcy and scored.  Evans converted.  38-0.

Just after this penalties powered the willing Irish towards the New Zealand line.  Horgan actually got over but Nonu held him up.  Murphy looked about to score when he lost the ball forward at the line.  Instead the All Blacks did the scoring.

Howlett got his second try through D'Arcy, this time going right and enjoying the benefit of sweet passing.  Evans converted and with five minutes left New Zealand led 45-0.

Ireland attacked and battered at the All Black line with men like Horgan, D'Arcy, O'Connor and replacement David Humphreys brave till prop Marcus Horan got the ball down on the line near the posts.  Humphreys converted and the final whistle went.

Man of the Match:  Anthony Horgan tried and was the most effective Irishman but really all the honours belong to the likes of Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Nick Evans, Piri Weepu, Mose Tuiali'i, Tony Woodcock and our man-of-the-match ubiquitous Richie McCaw.

Moment of the match:  It must be Ma'a Nonu's burst.

Villain of the Match:  It was generally an orderly match but Ma'a Nonu's tackle, especially in the context of what has gone on in recent times, made him our villain.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Try:  Horan
Con:  Humphreys

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Sivivatu 2, Weepu, Howlett 2
Cons:  Evans 4
Pens:  Evans 4

The teams:

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Gordon D'Arcy, 12 Shane Horgan, 11 Anthony Horgan, 10 Ronan O'Gara (David Humphreys, 75), 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly (Matt McCullough, 65), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes (Simon Best, 65), 2 Shane Byrne (Neil Best, 76), 1 Marcus Horan.
Unused replacements:  16 Rory Best, 20 Kieran Campbell, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

New Zealand:  15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Aaaron Mauger, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Piri Weepu (Jimmy Cowan, 65), 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Sione Lauaki, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Jason Eaton, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (Andrew Hore, 65), 1 Tony Woodcock (Saimone Taumoepeau, 65).

Replacements:  18 Carl Hayman, 19 Chris Jack, 20 Rodney So'oialo, 22 Mils Muliaina.

Referee:  Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges:  Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official:  Roy Maybank (England)

Pumas come back to beat Scotland

Penalty try seals Argentine win

Argentina came from behind to record a 23-19 win over Scotland in a bruising encounter at Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday.  The decisive score was a penalty try in the 70th minute, after Scotland had been reduced to 14 men.

It was cold in Murrayfield -- steam on the breath cold.  But there was nothing cold about the last quarter of an hour of this dramatic match as drama built on drama until the final whistle rang out around a sparsely populated Murrayfield.

In those last tense minutes the Pumas were more collected, the Scots prone enough to error to be suicidal.  The penalty count at half-time was 6-5 against them, but in the second half they conceded eight penalties and a penalty try to the Pumas' three penalties.  That was destructive.

The scrummaging in much of the match did nothing for the worth of the match as entertainment.  The Scots put the ball into 12 scrums.  There were ten resets, four free kicks and a penalty in those 12 scrums.  Things improved when loosehead Gavin Kerr was replaced.

At the start the match promised to be exciting and both teams tried to play wide and play quickly from penalties and free kicks -- the Scots more than the Pumas.

The Scottish try, the only try of the half, was a brilliant affair.

Argentina kicked downfield and strong Sean Lamont ran it back with a weave and jink.  He rushed past four Pumas until Juan Fernandez Lobbe brought him down.  On the Scots went with Allister Hogg prominent.  They went right and then with exquisite precision Dan Parks lobbed a kick over leaping Martin Schusterman and dived on the ball in the Puma in-goal for the try which gave the Scots the lead.

Before that the Pumas looked certain to score when Juan Martin chased and gathered a grubber.  An arm's length from the Scottish line he popped the ball back but the Scots intercepted and survived.

Federico Todeschini opened the scoring when Hogg was penalised but Parks equalised when he stroked a drop over.  Then came the try which Chris Paterson converted and followed with a penalty goal.

When Marcus Di Rollo, who had a splendid match, was penalised at a tackle.  Todeschini goaled to make the half-time score 13-6.

Simon Taylor had an elegant run and Jason White was tackled out at the corner, but Paterson made it 16-6, and then the shape of the game started to change.

The Pumas went left with long, accurate passes and Francisco Leonelli dived over in Paterson's tackle to score in the corner.  The television match official was satisfied that it was a try and Todeschini then converted from the touch-line.  That made it 16-13 and it became a match of mounting drama.

First the Scots were penalised but the touch judge stuck his flag out and pointed out an indiscretion by Mario Ledesma.  It then became a penalty to Scotland, which Paterson goaled.  Todeschini made it 19-16 and there were many changes.

Then disaster struck Scotland, Simon Taylor was sent to the sin-bin, and the Pumas made the penalty into a five metre line-out.

For a long, long, agonisingly tense time, they stayed down in that corner on their left.  Five times they made penalties into scrums against the shortened Scottish pack.

Then when the replacement hooker Scott Lawson pushed a foot through to kick the ball out of the scrum, the referee ran over to the posts and awarded a penalty try, much to Scottish consternation -- both on the field and in the stands.  Todeschini converted and that meant at 23-19 Scotland needed a try in the remaining eight minutes to win.

How they attacked!  They passed from touch-line to touch-line.  The Pumas defended.  They went down with cramp and got up on stiff legs to defend again.  The Scots tried to bash round the edges but the Pumas went in low on them.

Taylor came back.

A forward pass became an Argentina scrum, which the Scots destroyed.  The Pumas kicked it out.  The Scots made the line-out into a maul which the Pumas collapsed.  The Scots, needing a try, formed a line-out five metres from the Puma line.  The Pumas drove the catcher back but the determined Scots regrouped and were actually over in the corner with a minute left to play.  But the referee, in a perfect position, saw that the ball was held up.

Five metre scrum and the nerves were taut to screaming.

The Scots won the scrum but did not take the Argentines on and released the ball to their backs where the obvious recipient was Sean Lamont coming in off the left wing.  But the ball bobbed astray and the Argentineans had a scrum.  They dug in and got the ball back to Agustín Pichot who kicked it out, and the final whistle went.

Man of the Match:  Argentina No.8 Juan Fernandez Lobbe was all things effective and energetic, strong and determined.  Felipe Contepomi, playing inside centre this week, was always a handful -- such a clever player.  But our man-of-the-match is Sean Lamont whose performance on the left wing was splendid -- always adventurous, always able to beat at least one opponent.

Moment of the Match:  The Scottish try which started with a brilliant run by Sean Lamont and then that delicate kick by Dan Parks.

Villain of the Match:  Mario Ledesma was silly but not as silly as Simon Taylor whose absence in the sin bin cost his team so dearly.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Try:  Parks
Con:  Paterson
Pens:  Paterson 3
DG:  Parks

For Argentina:
Tries:  Leonelli, Penalty try
Cons:  Todeschini 2
Pens:  Todeschini 3

Yellow card:  Simon Taylor (Scotland, 65)

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Marcus Di Rollo, 12 Andy Henderson, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Allister Hogg, 6 Jason White (captain), 5 Scott Murray, 4 Craig Hamilton, 3 Bruce Douglas, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements:  16 Scott Lawson, 17 Craig Smith, 18 Allan Jacobsen, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Chris Cusiter, 22 Hugo Southwell

Argentina:  15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Federico Martin Aramburu, 13 Manuel Contepomi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Federico Todeschini, 9 Agustin Pichot (captain), 8 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Martin Schusterman, 6 Martin Alberto Durand, 5 Pablo Bouza, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements:  16 Martin Scelzo, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 20 Nicolas Fernandez-Miranda, 21 Lucas Borges, 22 Bernardo Mario Stortoni

Referee:  Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Eric Darrière (France)
Television match official:  Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Italy wallop Tonga in Prato

Seven try fiesta

After leading 21-0 at half-time, Italy beat Tonga 48-0 at Stadio Lungobisenzio in Prato on Saturday, scoring seven tries in the process.

On a sunny, warm afternoon in Tuscany Italy were much too sophisticated for the ardent Tongans.  They were better organised at scrums and line-outs and outside of that were too skilled and too fast for the stocky Tongans who were best at doing the wrestling things in rugby.

Italy's tries were mainly long-range affairs as they spread the ball wide and backed up in good angles.  They had great confidence in their passing and running, happy even to run out of deep defence where in the past they may have banged the ball into touch.

Where Italy played as a unit, Tonga tended to play as individuals, bashing ahead one at a time.

Their preparation for their tour had been anxious, rather than constructive.  Australia gave them a loan to get kit.  France helped with travel.  There were visa problems for their Italian trip and their players play in several places, but this was their fourth match on the tour after they had beaten Oxford, Newbury and Italy A.  But then several of the players who played against Italy A on Wednesday, did duty again on Saturday.

Italy's first try when Sergio Parisse, a layer of great skill, intuition and calm, charged down an attempted clearance, gathered and gave his captain Marco Bortolami the first of his two tries in the match, which Pez Converted, as he did all three in the half.

Gonzalo Canale made the break and handled twice to send Mirco Bergamasco, now 22 and looking fast and strong, down the left wing.  The right wing Ludovico Nitoglia was on hand to carry the move on and get a clever pass inside to Bortolami for the big lock's second try.

Try number three also started far out and well on Italy's right.  Parisse really made it possible with some clever footwork and a sympathetic pass that set Bergamasco racing ahead.  The wing beat three defenders to score.

In the second half Tongan discipline slipped a little.  Where they had been penalised four time sin the first half, they were penalised eight times in the second.  On four occasions Italy opted for attacking scrums in lieu of the kick.

Pez kicked a penalty for Italy and then the Azzurri received the present of a try.  Pez kicked into the Tongan in-goal where their fullback Sila Va'enuku seemed to have an easy dot-down.  But he missed the ball and, fractionally before the dead-ball line, centre Gonzalo Canale fell on it and the television match official advised that it was indeed a try, which Pez converted.  That made the score 31-0.

Tonga lost bushy-haired and troublesome Suka Hufanga when he suddenly decided to punch Ludovico Nitoglia out in the open.

It was at this stage that Italy changed a litany of penalties into a litany of scrums, without real profit till they had another stroke of luck.

Pez dropped for goal.  The kick was charged down but not all that far and Italy got control with some neat passing to their left and a try in the corner for No.8 Josh Sole, the latest New Zealander to play for Italy.  Soul, not sowlay!

Sole got a second when Italy managed to turn some untidy scraps of play into a try, which Pez converted.  43-0

The last try was also gift-wrapped.  Tonga won a disintegrating scrum.  Paul Griffen of the eccentric hair grabbed the ball Alessandro Zanni, on for Aaron Persico, did well and sent Bergamasco speeding down the wing for a try in the corner.  Pez missed the conversion and the final whistle went.

Italy and Tonga had met twice before, at World Cups and each had won once.  Now Tonga, who rarely get a chance to play outside of the Pacific, have not won a match since July 2003.

Man of the Match:  Paul Griffen was always affective, Andrea Lo Cicero was also effective.  Gonzalo Canale was clever, but our choice falls between two players -- strong running, industrious Mirco Bergamasco and our choice Sergio Parisse who is so skilled, has such vision and is willing to do the dirty work with the rest.  At 23, the Argentinian is already one of the best loose forwards in the world.

Moment of the Match:  Sergio Parisse's sharp step and sympathetic pass that gave Mirco Bergamasco a chance to score a try.

Villain of the Match:  Undoubtedly Suka Hufanga who was more than just silly.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Tries:  Bortolami 2, Bergamasco 2, Sole 2, Canale
Cons:  Pez 5
Pen:  Pez

The teams:

Italy:  15 Ezio Galon, 14 Mirco Bergamasco, 13 Gonzalo Canale (Pablo Canavosio, 67), 12 Cristian Stoica, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia (Maurizio Zaffiri, 75), 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Aaron Persico (22 Luciano Orquera, 75), 6 Sergio Parisse (Alessandro Zanni, 62), 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Carlo Del Fava (Valerio Bernabo, 41), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Carlo Festuccia (Fabio Ongaro, 72), 1 Andrea Lo Cicero (Matias Aguero, 62).

Tonga:  15 Sila Va'enuku, 14 Suka Hufanga, 13 Sione Tu'ipulotu, 12 Andrew Mailei, 11 Salesi Finau (Keni Filisau, 74), 10 Fangatapu Apikotoa (Elisi Vunipola, 75), 9 Soane Havea, 8 Chris Halaufia, 7 Viliami Vaki, 6 Ma'ama Molitika (Ueleni Fono, 68), 5 Milton Ngauamo (Fakataha Molitika, 75), 4 Inoke Afeaki, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa (Peni Fakalelu, 56), 2 Ifalemi Taufaka (Viliami Maasi, 75), 1 Soane Tongahuika.
Unused replacements:  20 Siole Nau

Referee:  Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges:  Scott Young (Australia), Andrew Small (England)
Television match official:  Nigel Owens (Wales)

Wales escape from Fijian clutches

Six Nations champions fortunate in narrow one-point victory

Wales beat Fiji 11-10 in Cardiff on Friday, but were fortunate to escape even with that after a simply dismal performance which will have South Africans rubbing their hands with anticipation.

Wales came out in funeral black, a shade of things to come it seemed when they ended the bitty first half trailing 7-0.  They had had the better of possession and territory, dominated the scrums, won two of five Fijian line-outs and better chances to score but it was the big, creative Fijians who did the best of the meagre scoring.

In the end it was the Welsh forwards that made the victory possible, but it was a match that the determined Fijians could well have won.

For some reason in enclosed Millennium Stadium, the goal-kicking was poor.  Fiji missed four penalty attempts in the match, Wales two and a conversion, two of them easy kicks.  But in the end it was a kick that saved Wales's bacon and that came with just five minutes left to play.  Fiji came that close. 

Fiji lost but may well have found more satisfaction in the match than the victorious Welsh would have, for Wales so spluttered and bumbled that they looked nothing like the Grand Slammers of last season.

At one stage in the first half Wales did lots of phased attacking and a try looked inevitable till a flicked on pass landed at Martyn Williams's feet and he knocked on.  Sonny Parker had a great break but his pass to Martyn Williams was awry.  Shane Williams actually got over the line, but he had started his dance and dart with a knock-on on the 22 -- a fatal error as it tuned out.

From the ensuing scrum on their 22 the Fijians did three passes close to the scrum till big lock Ifereimi Rawaqa stuck out a prehensile arm at the popped pass and drew the ball in.  Then the massive lock strode down the middle of the field, heading straight for the goal posts, whilst black-clad Welshmen sank away in his wake.  He strode some 60 metres, the tall man with the long legs before sinking to earth for the try.  Chunky Julian Vulakoro converted and two minutes before half-time Fiji led 7-0.

Kevin Morgan went speeding away over the 22, looking likely to score till fullback Norman Ligairi hunted him down.  The other individual moment was a sharp break from a scrum by Gareth Cooper who may have erred in cutting in.  Fiji also had their moments early on and twice Shane Williams covered and flykicked a dangerous grubber into touch.  And it was Fiji who pulled further ahead when flyhalf Seremeaia Bai left-footed a neat drop over the bar.

For the next 20 minutes Wales attacked and Fiji defended, knocking down Welshman after Welshman.  Under the pressure the Fijian discipline appeared to slip.

First a penalty was marched 10 metres on to gibe Nicky Robinson a simple kick to make the score 10-3.  Then lock Isoa Domolailai stayed lying on a tackled player and was given a yellow card -- a fatal yellow as it turned out.

While he was sitting in the bin to contemplate his sins, Wales opted for a five-metre scrum instead of a simple penalty.  Michael Owen held the ball at the back, but the scrum went down.  It was reset and again Owen held the ball at the back and this time Wales scored.  The conversion, not a hard one, was pulled to the right and Fiji still, miraculously, led 10-8.

That was the score when Domolailai came back from the bin despite many earnest efforts by Wales.  But with five minutes to go Robinson stroked a left-footed drop over.

Fiji were better in those last five minutes as they threw the ball about in search of a try, but Wales did not budge and Fijian handling and scrumming left them in the lurch.

But for the fight of the Flying Fijians, it was not a memorable match at all -- except for that try.

Man of the match:  For Fiji Norman Ligairi was outstanding on attack and defence and scrumhalf Mosese Rauluni was courageous enough to win medals.  Matthew Watkins was the pick of the Welsh backs who had problems with finishing but our Man of the Match is the hairless prop, Jon Yapp.  It was the Welsh scrumming, more than any other activity, which won the match for Wales and he still had time for an energetic and skilled performance around the field.

Moment of the Match:  The try by Ifereimi Rawaqa, which may just be the greatest try you have ever seen by a lock forward.

Villain of the Match:  For his yellow card it would be Isoa Domolailai though prop Chris Horsman had sully moments.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Try:  Owen
Pen:  Robinson
Drop goal:  Robinson

For Fiji:
Try:  Rawaqa
Con:  Vulakoro
Drop goal:  Bai

Wales:  15 Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets), 14 Kevin Morgan (Newport-Gwent Dragons), 13 Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), 12 Sonny Parker (Ospreys), 11 Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10 Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), 9 Gareth Cooper (Newport-Gwent Dragons), 8 Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons, captain), 7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), 6 Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), 5 Luke Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), 4 Brent Cockbain (Ospreys), 3 Chris Horsman (Worcester Warriors), 2 Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), 1 John Yapp (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements:  16 Huw Bennett (Ospreys), 17 Adam Jones (Ospreys), 18 Ian Gough (Newport-Gwent Dragons), 19 Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), 20 Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), 21 Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues), 22 Ceri Sweeney (Newport-Gwent Dragons).

Fiji:  15 Norman Ligairi (Secom, Japan), 14 Mosese Luveitasau (Naitasiri), 13 Epeli Ruivadra (World, Japan), 12 Julian Vulakoro (Suva), 11 Sireli Bobo (Biarritz, France), 10 Seremaia Bai (Secom, Japan), 9 Mosese Rauluni (captain, Saracens, England), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole (Taranaki, NZ), 7 Aca Ratuva (Agen, France), 6 Alifereti Doviverata (Yamaha, Japan), 5 Isoa Domolailai (Northland, NZ), 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa (World, Japan), 3 Apisai Nagi (Lautoka), 2 Sunia Koto (Ovalau), 1 Josese Bale (St Nazaire, France).
Replacements:  16 Bill Gadolo (Suva), 17 Jiko Matawalu (Nadroga), 18 Kele Leawere (Nadroga), 19 Kiniviliame Salabogi (Nadroga), 20 Mosese Volavola (Nadroga), 21 Aporosa Vata (Ovalau), 22 Kameli Ratuvou (Tailevu).

Referee:  Rob Dickson (Scotland)

All Blacks bury Wales in Cardiff

Locals fail to fathom New Zealand's tempo

Step one of "Operation Grand Slam" is a complete success.  All Black wing Rico Gear ran in a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand recorded an emphatic 41-3 victory at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday -- a record home defeat for the locals.

But Wales won the singing and they defused the haka by putting it in the midst of the singing.

After a beautiful rendition of "God Defend New Zealand" the All Blacks did the haka.  But Wales were determined to have the last word -- and they had it with Catherine Jenkins leading "Land of My Fathers" while a flag-bearer hung from the ceiling of the closed Millennium Stadium.  They followed that up with an operatic "Bread of Heaven".  Unusually, the sides faced each other for the singing.

The history, myths and legends of 100 years of rugby came togther.  The scene was set for a great celebration.  In the end the celebrating belonged to the All Blacks because the promise of a contest fizzled and only the visitors dazzled.

Wales were brave, remarkably brave and resilient but New Zealand put together a combination of composed efficiency and composed flair based on clever support and smooth handling.

Any way you look at it, 41-3 is a hiding -- but the truth is that Wales, line-outs apart, did probably as well as they, Six Nations champions, could do.  The Tri-Nations champions, beaten only once this year, were far too good at anything measurable.

The first half belonged to New Zealand.  They turned every Wales scrum, all but one, to the left.  They won the line-outs taking four off Wales and losing just one of their own.  They crucially won the post-tackle turn-overs 4-0 -- in the second half they won just one.

All of that meant that Wales was forced to defence and defend, tackle and tackle -- which they did with courage.  When you saw the line-ups of the two teams -- the ferocious islanders against the callow youth of Wales, you would have thought that they were Welsh lambs led to the slaughter, but they were brave.

Wales conceded just one try and could have had one of their own but for some unsubtle cheating by Conrad Smith.

New Zealand's try came when brilliant Chris Jack won a Welsh throw five metres from their line on the New Zealand left.  The All Blacks went right.  Tana Umaga was checked but stood up and then Dan Carter did a run around and the left-handed passes which followed were magnificent -- waist-high and in front in an unbroken line until Mils Muliaina gave to Rico Gear who scored half a metre in from touch.  From there Carter converted.  That made the score 13-3.

On all but one occasion, the All Blacks attacked going right -- which may be the result of having a left-handed fly-half.

Before that Carter had kicked two penalties and then Stephen Jones one.

Stephen Jones's penalty came when Smith infringed.  Gareth Thomas came in from fullback and cut past Umaga.  He gave to Kevin Morgan on his right because Ceri Sweeney was missing, held back by Smith, an infringement which the touch judge explained to the referee.

Late in the half Wales put the ball through many phases.  They did not get all that far but it must have given them heart.  Sadly their effort broke apart when Brent Cockbain punched Umaga.

Wales did better in the second half but conceded more points and scored none, which seems unfair reward for hard labour for the prisoners of the All Blacks.

New Zealand got their first try after four minutes of the half when they got the ball of a turn-over from Shane Williams and Carter went through a half gap before giving to Gear with room in from touch.  The gliding wing cut inside Gareth Thomas and scored.  Carter converted and it was 20-3.

Wales swapped Chris Horsman for Adam Jones in the front row and the scrummaging went better.

But the line-outs did not, not even when they brought Rhys Thomas on for Mefin Davies and beanpole Luke Charters for Brent Cockbain.

They lost two five-metre line-outs as they forsook penalties at goal in search of tries.  In the second half they lost two line-outs and threw in skew once -- a loss and a skew throw five metres from the New Zealand line.

The All Blacks won a five-metre line-out but spread the ball from left to right with those long, accurate passes and a decoy runner to send Gear skidding over for his hat-trick try.  Carter converted from five metres in from touch.  27-3.

There was a half an hour to play and both sides started their substitutions.

Wales got closest in the match when Garth Cooper tapped a penalty and darted, but at no time did a try really threaten.

Novice James Ryan had a wonderful run down the middle of the field but Wales got the ball from his pass to Kelleher.

There was some ugliness soon after this when Tony Woodcock looked to be doing something to Cockbain that resembled that "spear-tackle" on Brian O'Driscoll which has been the focus of so much attention.  The referee penalised Woodcock with a stern ticking off.

With 12 minutes left the All Blacks went right when Kelleher played inside to Joe Rokocoko.  Then they went wide left where Carter beat Sweeney just in from touch and over he went for a try, which he duly converted.

Carter got the last try as well when Ma'a Nonu, on for Umaga, checked and burst.  He gave to Smith who grubbered a left-footed kick to his right.  Nonu and Shane Williams arrived at the loose ball at the same time and it squirted out into Carter's hands.  The cool pivot flopped over the line for his second try and duly slotted his fifth conversion -- and that was it, the "Grand Slam" remains a possibility.

Man of the Match:  Nobody tried harder or better than Stephen Jones, bloodied but uncomplaining.  He tackled, he ran and he kicked.  He was wonderful.  For New Zealand Carl Hayman was a powerful force, especially in the scrums, Mils Muliaina was all things alive and Rico Gear ran in a hat-trick but in the end it came down to two players -- Daniel Carter with his impeccable efficiency and Chris Jack who destroyed the Welsh line-out, won a turn-over, caught kick-offs and was part of New Zealand's dominant scrummaging.  Chris Jack wins our award.

Moment of the Match:  Rico Gear's second try, the first after half-time.  It signalled Welsh defeat and New Zealand's impending victory.

Villain of the Match:  There are three candidates -- Conrad Smith, Brent Cockbain and Tony Woodcock.  Two probably acted on the spur of the moment, one perhaps unwittingly, but Conrad Smith's action was cynical and calculated and quite possibly symptomatic of something nasty, a flaw in a brilliant diamond.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Gear 3, Carter 2
Cons:  Carter 5
Pens:  Carter 2

For Wales:
Pen:  S Jones

The teams:

Wales:  15 Gareth Thomas (Lee Byrne, 52), 14 Kevin Morgan, 13 Mark Taylor, 12 Ceri Sweeney (Nicky Robinson, 68), 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips (Gareth Cooper, 49), 8 Michael Owen, 7 Colin Charvis (Robin Sowden-Taylor, 68), 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Brent Cockbain (Luke Charteris, 61), 3 Adam Jones (Chris Horsman, 45), 2 Mefin Davies (Rhys Thomas, 61), 1 Duncan Jones.

New Zealand:  15 Mils Muliaina (Leon MacDonald, 72), 14 Rico Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tana Umaga (Ma'a Nonu, 68), 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher (Jimmy Cowan, 68), 11 Joe Rokocoko, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Chris Masoe (Richie McCaw, 68), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 James Ryan (Angus Macdonald, 65), 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver (Andrew Hore, 65), 1 Neemia Tialata (Tony Woodcock, 51).

Referee:  Chris White (England)
Touch judges:  Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Matt Goddard (Australia)
Television match official:  Scott Young (Australia)

Wallabies dazed by dazzling French

Les Bleus spoil Gregan's party

Australia's tour of Europe got off to a stuttering start as they felt the full force of dazzling France, going down 26-16 at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome on Saturday night.

The Wallabies' stock in world rugby has plummeted following their disappointing Tri-Nations campaign this summer and they suffered at the hands of the French, whose combination of breathtaking back-play and power in the pack proved too much for their opponents.

Led by the impish half-back pairing of Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frédéric Michalak, Les Bleus scored two tries -- through Cédric Haymans and Rémy Martin -- and displayed an unswerving work ethic in defence to restrict Australia to just three penalties from the boot of Mat Rogers and a last-gasp touchdown by substitute Drew Mitchell.

France, who went into the interval with just a one-point advantage at 10-9 could even cope with forced withdrawal of Michalak through injury at the start of the second half as Elissalde took over kicking duties to bag himself 11 points.

The result means Australia have lost their last six internationals, while for George Gregan, the veteran scrum-half, it was a disappointing way to celebrate a record-breaking 115th Test appearance.

A sumptuous passage of play involving Toulouse quartet Michalak, Yannick Jauzion, Cédric Heymans and Yannick Nyanga was an early sign of things to come for Australia as France demonstrated a willingness to run at their opponents from anywhere.

Michalak booted over his side's first points with a penalty in the eighth minute but the Wallabies restored parity through Rogers' three-pointer six minutes later.

The mercurial Michalak was wayward with a straightforward penalty moments later before a Nyanga try in the right corner was disallowed after the rampaging flanker was adjudged to have been offside when Elissalde fired over a bomb to the wing.

France were the more dangerous in the opening 20 minutes and it came as no surprise when they went over for the first try in the 25th minute.

It owed much to guile and fleet of foot of Michalak, whose jinking run was ended five yards out.  The ball was slow to be recycled but Elissalde found Heymans cutting in and the winger galloped over beneath the posts.

The conversion was added but the deficit was reduced immediately through Rogers' second penalty.

A third soon followed on the stroke of half-time to make it 10-9, although Australia may have been hoping for more a minute earlier when Morgan Turinui and Rogers linked well on the left before the move was brought to a shuddering halt by France centre Florian Fritz.

The lively Rogers again came close to going over at the start of second half after a bullocking charge but with the French defence in disarray as a result, Brendan Cannon knocked on just five yards out.

Michalak, who had been a thorn in Australia's side in the first half, was forced off with a shoulder injury in the 46th minute after he felt the full force of a crunching Mark Chisholm hit.

Castres' Yann Delaigue was drafted on as his replacement but it did not disrupt Les Bleus' rhythm as they increased their lead, first via Elissalde's penalty and then through Martin's try in the 51st minute.

The Stade Français flanker charged down a Matt Giteau kick before Fritz was dragged down a yard out after chasing the loose ball.

Martin followed up, however, to gather and ground in one movement, with Elissalde providing the conversion.

Elissalde made it 23-9 on the hour mark with a superbly-struck penalty from the right touchline and another in the 72nd minute added gloss to the scoreline.

Substitute Mitchell's converted injury-time try following good work by full-back Chris Latham blotted France's copybook but the win for the hosts was never in doubt.

Australia face England at Twickenham next Saturday before playing against Ireland and Wales.

France will host Canada next Saturday in Nantes before taking on Tonga in Toulouse and South Africa at the Stade de France on successive weekends.

Man of the match:  The Wallabies were committed to a man, and the likes of Chris Latham and Lote Tuqiri showed their usual commitment to the cause.  But this award must go to a Frenchman.  Cédric Heymans was effective, Yannick Jauzion clever, Frédéric Michalak magical and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde determined and resourceful.  But our choice is the obscenely athletic Yannick Nyanga -- the industrious young flank has a massive future ahead of him.

Moment of the match:  So many brilliant moments from both sides, but the sight of both teams -- and a marching band -- being soaked by an impromptu appearance of the sprinklers will live long in the mind!  Imagine what these two teams could have produced on a dry track?  But the show was stolen by the build up to Cédric Heymans's try -- a superlative piece of play.  Great hands, great vision, great natural ability and Freddy's dancing feet!  A mention, too, for the rapturous welcome received by Thomas Castaignède on his return to the Test stage.

Villain of the match:  The hectic pace meant that there wasn't time for too much funny business, but Brendon Cannon still managed to open his face on the outstretched elbow of Fabien Pelous.  We'll leave the citing commissioners to decide whether it was malicious or not, and leave this gong on ice for the moment.  But don't expect to see the French skipper in his rugby kit for about four to six weeks.

The scorers:

For France:
Tries:  Heymans, Martin
Cons:  Elissalde 2
Pens:  Elissalde 3, Michalak

For Australia:
Try:  Mitchell
Cons:  Rogers
Pen:  Rogers

The teams:

France:  15 Julien Laharrague, 14 Aurélien Rougerie, 13 Florian Fritz (Thomas Castaignède, 63), 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Frédéric Michalak (Yann Delaigue, 46) , 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Rémy Martin, 7 Thomas Lièvremont (Sébastien Chabal, 75), 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous (Lionel Nallet, 67), 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (Sébastien Bruno, 60), 1 Olivier Milloud (Sylvain Marconnet, 68).
Unused:  19 Grégory Lamboley

Australia:  15 Chris Latham, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Lote Tuqiri (Lloyd Johansson, 59), 12 Morgan Turinui, 11 Mat Rogers, 10 Matt Giteau (Drew Mitchell, 63), 9 George Gregan (Chris Whitaker, 74), 8 George Smith, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom (John Roe, 60), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm (Hugh McMeniman, 63), 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon (Stephen Moore, 59), 1 Matt Dunning (Greg Holmes, 80).

Referee:  Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges:  Kelvin Deaker and Lyndon Bray (both New Zealand)
Television match official:  Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Boks outmuscle Pumas in dour scrap

Three tries each in Buenos Aires

South Africa outmuscled Argentina in a dour match to win 34-23 at Estadio de Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Saturday.  The teams scored three tries each, but the boot of Percy Montgomery sealed the win.

Bits of paper came floating down onto the field on a sunny afternoon in Buenos Aires.  The field was littered with bits of paper and bits and pieces of play in a disjointed match that lacked flow where the focus was on whatever forwards thought they did best.

It became the big maul.  I maul, then you maul, then I maul, then you maul.

South Africa lost five line-outs though they have the "best locks in the world".  The Pumas also lost five.

There was lots and lots of kicking, much of it aimless.  Passing the ball was not really an option for the Pumas.

Because South Africa kicked out and badly -- three times on the full in the first half -- they made good opportunity for Puma mauls.

Watched by Diego Maradonna and the great, first Pumas of 1965, Felipe Contepomi kicked off.  He also kicked the first penalty and made two tries in the half.

His first penalty, against John Smit, opened the scoring.  Then André Pretorius kicked a penalty from on the half-way line when Ignacio Fernández Lobbe infringed at a maul, and then Percy Montgomery kicked a penalty when Ignacio Fernández Lobbe infringed at a maul, and the score was 6-3 to South Africa.  Perhaps they were getting back into the game.

But scrum-half Bolla Conradie took the ball back into his 22 from where he kicked out on the full, thus creating a Puma line-out inside the Springbok 22, encouraging the cohesive locals to maul till flank Agustín Durand broke away, cut inside Bakkies Botha and then, as Conradie brought him to ground, stretched out a long arm to score.  8-6 to Argentina.

Under pressure Pretorius kicked out but hurt his right ankle in doing so.  He was helped off and Brent Russell came on in his place.  This was only in the 22nd minute.

The Springboks attacked on their left, but Victor Matfield who had an anaemic first half, was penalised.  The Pumas tapped and suddenly they were speeding away.  Felipe Contepomi raced off and then kicked a long grubber to his left.  The ball stopped gently just over the Springbok line near the corner, and tall wing Francisco Leonelli flopped gratefully on it.  That made it 13-6 after 24 minutes.

Montgomery kicked another penalty and then the Springboks got a try from a line-out on their left.  Os du Randt had a charge, Juan Smith had a run and got a clever pass to his right and found Brett Russell who sent Montgomery running around behind the posts.  After 33 minutes the Springboks led 16-13.  But the Pumas were not to be outdone.

They mauled from a scrum and just when they seemed to have been thwarted the ball came back to Felipe Contepomi who cut straight forward and found his twin brother who skipped over with much glee for a try which Felipe converted.

That brought the half-time break and the Pumas led 20-16.  Was this to be the famous victory of 40 years ago all over?  Puma hearts swelled with hopeful pride.

At the break Schalk Burger came on for Solly Tyibilika.  Obviously he made a difference with his skill, energy and anticipation.

The Springboks took a lead that was not assailed.  From a line-out, Jacques Cronjé charged.  The ball came back quickly and Conradie darted ahead.  Drawing the fullback he gave to Fourie, who trotted over for the try at the posts.  23-20.

That became 23-20 soon afterwards when Montgomery goaled a penalty.

There was an unpleasant moment just after this.  Jean de Villiers forced Lucas Borges into touch and wanted the ball.  Borges held onto it.  De Villiers again tried to pry it from his grasp.  Borges held on and De Villiers shoved him.  Borges staggered back over the hoarding and into the soccer moat which was masked by the hoarding.  This produced unhappy emotion, especially from the cantankerous Mario Ledesma.  The end result was a yellow card for De Villiers and a penalty for the Pumas.

Felipe Contepomi reduced the Springbok lead when he goaled a penalty, but the Springboks were soon battering at the Puma line after fullback Juan Martín Hernández dropped an up-and-under.  Burger was just about at the line but the Puma defence held.  The referee was playing advantage when Conradie popped a dropped goal over the crossbar.  The Springboks led 29-23 and De Villiers came back from his temporary exile.

After several substitutions the Springboks battered ahead with pick and drive.  Burger and Albert van den Berg, on for Bakkies Botha, drove well and then Juan Smith picked up and forced his way over in the corner.  34-23.

There were still nine minutes to play but the game petered out with more unpleasant emotion.  A good effort from the Argentines but South Africa had the know-how.

Both sides now head for Europe, and both sides know they have to up their game.

Man of the Match:  It really is hard to find one.  The outstanding player was Schalk Burger, but he played for only half the match.  Felipe Contepomi did some wonderful things, creating two tries, but while he, a fly-half, played he just did not let play flow.  Our man-of-the-match is tall Juan Smith, who was the best in the line-outs, who tackled and who handled and ran well, creating a try and scoring another.

Villain of the match:  One would like to say the over-emotional Mario Ledesma, but really it was Jean de Villiers with his yellow card even though what happened was certainly worse than he had intended.

Moment of the Match:  The disappearance of Lucas Borges into the moat with De Villiers and others trying to help him out.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries:  Durand, Leonelli, M Contepomi
Con:  F Contepomi
Pens:  F Contepomi 2

For South Africa:
Tries:  Montgomery, Fourie, Smith
Cons:  Montgomery 2
Pens:  Pretorius, Montgomery 3
DG:  Conradie

Yellow card:  Jean de Villiers (South Africa, 47)

The teams:

Pumas:  15 Juan Martín Hernández, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Federico Martín Aramburu, 12 Manuel Contepomi, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Agustín Pichot (captain), 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Agustín Durand, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 5 Pablo Bouza, 4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe, 3 Omar Hasan, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements:  16 Eusebio Guiñazú, 17 Martín Scelzo, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 Martín Schusterman, 20 Nicolás Fernández Miranda, 21 Federico Todeschini, 22 Bernardo Stortoni.

South Africa:  15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Solly Tyibilika, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 De Wet Barry, 22 Brent Russell.

Referee:  Tony Spreadbury (England)
Touch judges:  George Ayoub, Brett Bowden (both Australia)
Television match official:  Eric Darrière (France)

Japan beat Spain in Tokyo

Japan beat Spain 44-29 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon.

Surprisingly for a country bidding for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the only information this website could find was ion the official website of the Spanish Rugby Federation.  There was nothing available to us on the Japanese Rugby Union's website nor that of the Japan Times whose sport coverage includes skating, sumo wrestling, F1 and soccer but no report on the last rugby Test prior to the announcement of the bid.

The report we have comes from Spain, which professed it self satisfied with its team's performances and noted that it had opportunities to win the match.

The Spanish side played a great game, specially in first half in which it was ahead on the scoreboard for a long period of time.  At one stage Spain led 18-14 after a try by scrumhalf Pablo Feijóo, converted by Esteban Roqué, and a dropped goal by fullback César Sempere.

Japan started strongly and were on the board in the opening minutes when fullback Goshi Tachikawa scored a try converted by Japan's legendary goalkicker, Keiji Hirose, the only Japanese survivor of the first encounter between the two countries.

Spain attacked after that and a try by Jorge Prieto made it 7-5 till Japan scored again.  This time flank Takashi Kikutani, went over and it was 14-5.

Back came the Spanish with the two drops by Sempere on either side of Feijóo's try.  Spain were playing well with the ball in hand.  But a try for Japan by lock Takashi Akatsuka but the home side e ahead at the break.

A penalty goal by Roqué brought the sides level early in the second half but then Hirose's boot started singing with two penalties and a drop to a try by David Mota who had replaced Prieto.  That made it 30-26.  But Japan then got two more tries, the second well into injury time.

It was only the second rugby Test between the two.  In 1999 Japan also won in Tokyo.

Scorers:

For Japan:
Tries:  Tachikawa, Kikutani, Akatsuka, Oto, Onozawa
Cons:  Hirose 5
Drop:  Hirose
Pens:  Hirose 2

For Spain:
Tries:  Prieto, Feijóo, Mota
Con:  Roqué
Drops:  Sempere 2
Pens:  Roqué 2

Teams:

Japan:  15 Goshi Tachikawa, 14 Nataniera Oto, 13 Junpei Enomoto, 12 Shotaro Onishi, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Keiji Hirose, 9 Wataru Ikeda (captain), 8 Hajime Kiso, 7 Takashi Kikutani, 6 Tomoaki Nakai, 5 Takashi Akatsuka, 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 3 Ryo Yamamura, 2 Yuji Matsubara, 1 Yuichi Hisatomi.
Replacements:  16 Taskashi Yamaoka, 17 Tomokazu Soma, 18 Tsuyoshi Sato, 19 Takanori Kumagae, 20 Mamoru Ito, 21 Ryota Asano, 22 Takashi Miyake.

Spain:  15 César Sempere, 14 Jorge Prieto,13 Ferrán Velazco (captain),12 Jaime Nava,11 Ignacio Martín,10 Esteban Roqué,9 Pablo Feijóo, 8 Iván Criado, 7 Juan González, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 César Bernasconi, 4 Andrew Ebbett, 3 Javier Salazar, 2 Diego Zarzosa, 1 Ion Insausti.
Replacements:  16 Mathieu Cidre,17 César Caballero,18 Alejandro Ortega,19 Álvaro Lázaro, 20 Facundo Lavino, 21 Alvar Enciso, 22 David Mota

Referee:  Andrew Cole (Australia)
Touch judges:  Shinji Aida, Taizo Hirabayashi (both Japan)

All Blacks snuff out England's fire

England manage three tries but fall well short

Twickenham's refurbished South Stand endured a baptism of fire as New Zealand recorded a handsome 41-20 victory over England on Sunday, with Dan Carter bagging 26 points as the holders of the Rugby World Cup fell to their heaviest home defeat of all time.

The difference between the two sides was black and white, and we're not referring to the jerseys.

England look a million miles away from successfully defending their world crown;  New Zealand -- who made it 21 wins from their last 23 starts -- continue to coast towards a reunion with that coveted gold pot.

The odds were always stacked against England, who have beaten New Zealand just six times in 101 years, and they were duly ushered into the flames as their guests fashioned a funeral pyre on Bonfire Night.

But England were not willing victims, they made a bright and blustery start, even getting Jamie Noon over the whitewash in the fifth minute of the game, only for the try to be disallowed by the fourth official.

The scare seemed to rouse New Zealand from their revelry and they hit back in typical fashion, counterattack from deep whenever the opportunity arose, making their hosts pay for even the slightest mistake.

New Zealand opened the scoring when Carter slotted a penalty inside three minutes, but England were left shaking their heads in disbelief when they were denied a try just two minutes later.

Slick approach work scattered New Zealand's defence and before the All Blacks could regroup, Noon went for broke, brushing off two tackles as he ploughed over, although he ignored an unmarked Danny Grewcock outside him.

With Ma'a Nonu appearing to have a hand under Noon's body and somewhere in the vicinity of the ball, the decision went to television match official Christophe Berdos.  But the Frenchman was unable to ascertain whether or not the ball had been grounded and denied England the try.

In terms of England's momentum, it proved a crucial moment as New Zealand simply weathered the storm and stung their hosts through a breakaway score that emphasised a gulf in standards.

Wing Rico Gear ran aggressively into England's half, and even when he ran out of numbers, prop Tony Woodcock had enough about him to keep possession alive before quickly recycled possession saw skipper Richie McCaw send Mauger over.

Carter added the extras, and England had a mountain to climb, 13-0 adrift after 22 minutes, but it was the cue for a vibrant response.

England knew they had to throw caution to the wind, and a try arrived when debutant centre Anthony Allen's break caused enough panic in New Zealand's defence and Noon made amends for his earlier miss by touching down.

The score gave England a glimmer of hope, but New Zealand finished the half in blistering fashion, more than doubling their points tally.

Carter slotted a 50-metre penalty, but that was a calm before the storm as far as England were concerned.

New Zealand had the scent of more tries, and two arrived in barely as many minutes.

Allen's speculative midfield pass was intercepted by Rokocoko, who galloped 50 metres to score, but matters deteriorated for England, when the All Blacks again attacked from deep, utilising Rokocoko's fellow wing Gear.

Gear's angles of running caused mayhem in the England defence, and even though his chief support act was again Woodcock, New Zealand still had enough time and space to work Woodcock's fellow prop Hayman over.

Carter failed to add the extras, yet New Zealand had entered a comfort zone and England were seemingly finished.

The hosts had to strike first after half-time, and they delivered when quality linking between Leicester trio skipper Martin Corry, hooker George Chuter and flanker Lewis Moody sent Cohen across.

It was the Northampton wing's 31st Test touchdown -- putting him level on the all-time England list with Will Greenwood -- and Hodgson's conversion at least gave England a glimmer of hope.

Such optimism though was snuffed out with more than a quarter of the match still remaining, as Carter -- a late replacement for injured fly-half Nick Evans -- stamped his class all over an increasingly one-sided encounter.

Carter missed a penalty he should have landed, but virtually from the restart he brushed off Allen's weak challenge and sprinted over for a converted try that ensured England conceded a record Twickenham points tally.

England debutant scrum-half Shaun Perry then lit up the gloom when he fielded Mauger's shallow grubber and sped off for a breakaway try from 60 yards out.

New Zealand then lost Chris Masoe to the sin-bin in the 65th minute for killing the ball and England fans readied themselves for a late flourish.

But Hodgson missed the ensuing shot at goal and the tourist made clever use of the ten minute period, opting for time-consuming kicks at goal that only extended their lead.

The All Blacks now turn their attentions to the double-header against the French;  England would be advised to turn towards the drawing board -- like their impressive new arena, they are not quite the finished article.

Man of the match:  England matched their guests for hungry and spirit, with Jamie Noon playing perhaps his best game for England, but New Zealand were leagues ahead in terms of class and wit.  Rico Gear had a super game for the All Blacks, as did -- inevitable -- Richie McCaw.  But for sheer all-round cool and cunning, how can we not thrust this gong towards Dan Carter?

Moment of the match:  We'll opt for the disallowed try -- the "whys" and "what ifs" will be ringing around pubs for days to come.

Villain of the match:  A yellow-card for Chris Masoe, but it wasn't anything evil.  Danny Grewcock gets our vote for having a tug at Andrew Ellis's blond locks -- unnecessary and, well, quite girly.  What is it with him and New Zealanders?

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Noon, Cohen, Perry
Cons:  Hodgson
Pen:  Hodgson

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Mauger, Rokocoko, Hayman, Carter
Cons:  Carter 3
Pens:  Carter 3

The teams:

England:  15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Pat Sanderson, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry (captain), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements:  16 Lee Mears, 17 Stuart Turner, 18 Chris Jones, 19 Magnus Lund, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Mark Van Gisbergen.

New Zealand:  15 Malili Muliaina, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Keith Robinson, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Clark Dermody, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Andrew Ellis, 21 Leon MacDonald, 22 Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Referee:  Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges:  Stuart Dickinson, Matt Goddard (both Australia)
Television match official:  Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessors:  Ian Scotney (Australia), Bob Francis (New Zealand)

All Blacks take their sixth title

Four tries each in Auckland

The All Blacks won their sixth Tri-Nations title when they beat the Wallabies 34-24 in the final match of the 2005 competition at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.  The teams scored four tries each, but it was penalties that decided the outcome.

The victory was predictable and deserved for the best team in the world, but the performance of the patchwork Wallabies was wholly laudable.

After the match Tana Umaga received the huge Tri-Nations Cup from Jock Hobbs, the chairman of SANZAR, and the even bigger Bledisloe Cup from John Graham and Paul McLean, the union presidents of New Zealand and Australia.

Tribute was paid to George Gregan who earned his 114th cap for his country, equalling the record of Jason Leonard for England.  Umaga said of him:  "It could not happen to a better man.  I can't do half the things he does."

Gregan, who had a splendid match, was cheerful about it all, would not commit to anything future, and said:  "They don't get any easier.  But I'm still enjoying it."

It was the first time the Wallabies had lost five successive Tests since 1969, a record they did not deserve after this heroic effort from a team cobbled together after a string of injuries.

The match started with the All Blacks on fire in their country's 400th Test.

After a return to the traditional haka, the All Blacks New Zealand started with zeal and zest.  They were aggressive in and at the tackle, they were much better at the set pieces, they won the turnovers and they scored the points and led 20-0 after 29 minutes.

The game and the glory looked all theirs.

When Drew Mitchell gathered the first downfield kick after the Wallaby kick-off, the All Blacks thumped into him and forced a turn-over.  Off the All Blacks went to the left in attack.  Leon MacDonald slid a kick through, but George Smith saved and the All Blacks were penalised.

Again the All Blacks put pressure on the first line-out and the Wallabies knocked on.  The first scrum fell down and was reset.

When the All Black chasers forced Mitchell to take the ball into touch, the All Blacks were again on the attack.  They drove the maul, Al Baxter was penalised and MacDonald goaled from an acute angle.

Three minutes later the All Blacks got their first try.  After Chris Jack had won an Australian line-out the All Blacks went left.  Tana Umaga, who had a powerful game, handed off Lote Tuqiri and kept steaming ahead as Wallabies tried to cling to him.  Mils Muliaina did well to keep the ball in play.  The All Blacks came right and then won the ball at a tackle/ ruck close to the Wallaby line.  Richie McCaw picked up and plunged round on the left for the try.  8-0 after 17 minutes.

It took another three minutes for their next try, one of exquisite simplicity.  Piri Weepu kicked down the right and Doug Howlett got the ball.  It went wide to the left where Joe Rokocoko lost the ball diving over the line.  But the Wallabies were penalised.  Tall Ali Williams arrived and tapped, just at the right upright as he looked at them.  He took a long-legged stride and kicked a diagonal kick to his right.  There Howlett waited for the ball, caught it and dropped to ground for the delightful try.

MacDonald slid a kick ahead which Mitchell, who spent the night under intense pressure, ran the ball into touch.  The All Blacks threw deep and peeled infield.  The ball went right to give Howlett an overlap and his second try right in the corner, and it took the television match official to confirm it.  MacDonald converted from touch.  That made it 20-0 and there were visions of a massacre.

The massacre did not materialise.

In a rare raid into All Black territory the Wallabies won a line-out.  Gregan delayed his pass and suddenly Mark Gerrard came cutting back past the outstretched hand of Carl Hayman, clean pass Weepu until he was kicked to ground.  He popped a pass to Chisholm who went over in the corner for a try which the TMO confirmed.

That made it 20-5 at half-time.

The second half brought a change to the vision, the change of a great Wallaby reversal, in the fashion of the French in the 1999 RWC semi-final at Twickenham.

At a line-out, Rocky Elsom passed form the height to Gregan who gave the Rogers who gave a short pass inside to Gerrard and the wing cut clean through past Hayman and Howlett to score near the posts.  Rogers converted.  20-12 after a minute of the second half.

The All Blacks had a chance when they drove a maul and MacDonald kicked a high diagonal for the wide-lurking Rokocoko, but Clyde Rathbone saved, conceding a five-metre scrum.  The Wallabies were hard-pressed to defend, but a chip in hope by Mauger brought the relief of a drop-out.

MacDonald seemed to have plenty of time to kick when Tuqiri came storming up on his inside.  The big Fijian charged the kick down, footed ahead and scored a try which it took the TMO unconscionably long to decide on.  Rogers converted and it was 20-19 with 33 minutes to play.

The sides started swapping players.  Luke McAlister came on for MacDonald, whose fitness was confirmed only on the morning of the match, and John Roe and, fatefully, Matt Dunning came on for the Wallabies.

Three minutes after his arrival Dunning stuck his shoulder late into Mauger, who had just kicked, and conceded a silly, silly penalty which McAlister goaled.  23-19.  Three minutes later Dunning was penalised at a scrum, and again McAlister goaled.  26-19.  Nathan Sharpe was penalised for an air tackle at a line-out -- "crunching" is the vogue term -- and McAlister made it 29-19.

Still the Wallabies were not done.  From a line-out after a penalty Gregan again did well and then Rogers made a sweet thing of a pass before Smith forged ahead and gave replacement and debutant Lloyd Johansson an overlap pass and a try in the corner.  That was the Wallabies' fourth try.  Rogers's conversion hit the upright and bounced away.

There were still ten minutes to play, but the only score in this time belonged to the All Blacks.

Mils Muliaina kicked downfield.  It seemed harmless but, as they do better than anybody else, the All Blacks chased.  Mitchell knocked on some six metres to Howlett who swooped and gathered.  He passed to Ryan, a tackle ruck formed and then Keven Mealamu gave Howlett the pass that gave him his first Test hat-trick.

Man of the match:  One would so like to make it George Gregan for all sorts of sentimental reasons and he did have a great game, tackling bravely, passing securely, letting play effectively, but there may just have been players more deserving.  Mark Gerrard of Australia made a try and scored a try and defended well.  George Smith grew as the Wallaby effort grew and Mat Rogers was great at fly-half, proving just how talented he is.  Chris Jack was wonderful till he hurt his ankle and was eventually replaced.  Piri Weepu plays with great confidence and competence.  Tana Umaga was a giant on defence.  Richie McCaw was all over the place with his energy.  But our Man of the Match is Doug Howlett of the hat-trick, great on attack and great on defence.

Moment of the Match:  The Ali Williams kick across to Howlett for the wing's try, the big lock willl be forced to sink a few beers tonight!

Villain of the Match:  The players were well mannered, except for Matt Dunning.  His late barge, scrum collapse and intemperate outburst against Ali Williams did not become the tone of the match.

The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries:  McCaw, Howlett 3
Con:  MacDonald
Pens:  MacDonald, McAlister 3

For Australia:
Try:  Chisholm, Gerrard, Tuqiri, Johansson
Cons:  Rogers 2

The teams:

New Zealand:  15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Tana Umaga (captain), 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Leon MacDonald, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Sione Lauaki, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Derren Witcombe, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 James Ryan, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Conrad Smith.

Australia:  15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Clyde Rathbone, 12 Morgan Turinui (vice-captain), 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Mat Rogers, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 George Smith, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe (vice-captain), 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Bill Young.
Replacements:  16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Alex Kanaar, 19 John Roe, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Lachlan MacKay, 22 Lloyd Johansson.

Referee:  Chris White (England)
Touch judges:  Joël Jutge (France), Christophe Berdos (France)
Television match official:  Giulio De Santis (Italy)

All Blacks snatch Dunedin victory

Late Mealamu try seals crucial bonus point win

New Zealand beat South Africa 31-27 in Dunedin on Saturday, with Keven Mealamu's late try giving them not only the match, but a potentially series-winning bonus point in the 2005 Tri-Nations.  South Africa also get a bonus point, but it will be scant consolation to them as they will see this match as one that got away.

Graham Henry, the All Black coach, said this was the final.  Jake White, the Springbok coach, said this was a final.  In that case the All Blacks have won the Tri-Nations.  Funny that Australia's participation is discounted!

After grim singing of anthems, a ferocious Tana Umaga led his team in a new haka of great intensity, which lasted till the final whistle.

The intensity spilled over into the match in which mistakes were severely punished, and was not decided till the All Blacks gained the victory with Mealamu's try.

Both sides gave it their all, but All Blacks were livelier.  For one thing they kicked better out of the hand and chased better to put pressure on the Springbok defence while the Springboks kicked to touch, and this time there was not much to choose between the two line-outs as the All Blacks kept the ball away from Victor Matfield, who had an anonymous match.

It was not a match of great construction except for one moment at the start of the second half when the All Blacks went left and right to the touch-lines.  For the most part they probed at close quarters, using Weepu, MacDonald and Collins around the fringes, seeking to avoid contact with the Springboks out wide, while the Springboks seemed to think that their sole attacking weapon was the battering Barry.

The tackle area was often a wild clash and crash but the All Blacks won the turn-overs.

In the end it was a game of consequences, as it always is.  Luke McAlister, on for Leon MacDonald with 12 minutes to go, kicked down towards the Springbok line.  Falling back Jean de Villiers did not control the rolling ball under pressure from Tana Umaga.

The defence held but in the process the Springboks conceded a penalty for off-side which the All Blacks tapped to charge at the line.  That desperate situation ended when the television match official decided that Richie McCaw had knocked on in trying to score.

That made it a scrum for the Springboks, but in this half the All Blacks had had the upper hand in the scrums and Rickie Januarie had trouble getting a pressured ball to Jaco van der Westhuyzen, who cleared under pressure but only 10 metres from the Springbok line.

The All Blacks mauled the line-out.  The referee played advantage and suddenly Mealamu broke away for a powerful thrust at the line which Januarie, Van der Westhuyzen and De Villiers could not stop.

McAlister's conversion from fairly far out ensured that the Springboks would have to score a try to win.

It was a match that the Springboks had seemed on their way to winning when Jaque Fourie scored a try and Van der Westhuyzen and Percy Montgomery were pinning the All Blacks back in their territory with rolling diagonal kicks.

The Springboks had the better of the early part of the game as they played with a slight breeze at a chilly Carisbrook.  The All Blacks conceded several penalties in the half -- 7-2 was the half-time count -- and Percy Montgomery goaled the first one against Carl Hayman at a ruck.  But thereafter, first Montgomery and then André Pretorius missed kicks at goal.

Two of the tries in the half, which ended 21-17 to New Zealand, came from charge-downs.

Aaron Mauger charged down a delayed kicked by Pretorius.  The ball skidded off parallel to the goal lines and landed up with Joe Rokocoko who sped down the left and scored as Pretorius tackled him.  MacDonald converted from touch to make it 7-3 to New Zealand.

The fifth try of the half also came from a charge-down.  This time it was Enrico Januarie who charged down Leon MacDonald's kick.  The little scrumhalf scurried after the ball, gathered it just before the line and dived over for the try.  That brought half-time.

Januarie also had a hand in the Springboks' first try.  As the ball squirted out of a tackle area towards the All Blacks, Januarie, standing in a suspicious position at best, footed it into the ankles of Piri Weepu.  The ball ricocheted sideways off his ankles and Bryan Habana needed no further invitation.  He gathered it in and raced downfield for a try which Montgomery converted.

MacDonald regained the lead for New Zealand, this time after a big error by Montgomery, compounded by a flap of a tackle.

The Springboks dropped out a long way downfield.  The All Blacks hoisted a high kick in return which Montgomery, not really close to catching the ball, knocked on.  Mealamu charged, brushing Montgomery aside, before sending MacDonald on a canter over the 22 and under the posts.  MacDonald converted.  14-10 to New Zealand after 21 minutes.

The All Blacks now struck a golden seam as they attacked and then scored an unlikely try.  That got untidy ball back from a tackle scene and Rokocoko, standing, then moving, then weaving beat Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Juan Smith and Pretorius in a confined space to score at the posts.  MacDonald converted.  21-10 and it looked as if the All Blacks were cruising.

Just before half-time Schalk Burger and Pretorius were tackling but clashed heads and both went off.  Burger was bleeding and got back on but Pretorius was replaced by Van der Westhuyzen.

Then Januarie stole his try and the score was 21-17.

The intensity boiled over early in the second half after a scrum with several players involved in a fracas.  Referee Joel Jutge, shouting "Please stop" in his finest English, consulted with linesman Chris White about the "little fight" but took no further action as nobody could identify who had started it.

Montgomery and MacDonald exchanged further penalties to make it 24-21 with 20 minutes to play.

The All Blacks played off a scrum.  They gave to Jerry Collins who sought to play inside.  He threw the ball on a laboured loop which Januarie snatched.  Off he went.  Caught by Rokocoko from behind the scrum-half offloaded to Fourie who swept over under the posts.  Montgomery converted and South African fans held their breath.

Now the Springboks led 27-24 with 15 minutes to play.  Would they break the Carisbrook hoodoo?  They looked like doing so till those fatal, consequential last four minutes which delighted the whole of New Zealand.

Man of the Match:  Schalk Burger again for South Africa, despite a battering, was an outstanding player, Bryan Habana got his try and was superb in defence again, Enrico Januarie had a game of extreme ups and downs, and one wished that Jaque Fourie would get a pass or two more.  New Zealand had Leon MacDonald, answering critics, with a varied game of great effectiveness, Tana Umaga with a tackle on Habana to snuff out a possible try-scoring opportunity for the Springboks in this last five minutes, Jerry Collins who had a great first half but faded as them match played on, neat Aaron Mauger, two try Joe Rokocoko, Piri Weepu who tested the Springboks time and again in the first half, and our Man of the Match:  sturdy hooker Keven Mealamu who was all things strong and intent, made a try and scored the one that counted.

Moment of the Match:  The winning try by Keven Mealamu after brilliant work by the whole All Black pack.

Villain of the Match:  Forgive the front rows for their altercation.  It helped the intensity and the spectacle!  Nobody gets this unwanted tag.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries:  Rokocoko 2, MacDonald, Mealamu
Cons:  MacDonald 3, McAlister
Pens:  MacDonald

For South Africa:
Tries:  Habana, Januarie, Fourie
Cons:  Montgomery 3
Pens:  Montgomery 2

New Zealand:  15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Tana Umaga (captain), 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Leon MacDonald, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements:  16 Derren Witcombe, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 James Ryan, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Doug Howlett.

South Africa:  15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Jean de Villiers, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements:  16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Marius Joubert.

Referee:  Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges:  Chris White (England), Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Television match official:  Christophe Berdos (France)
Assessor:  Jim Bailey (Wales)