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Two important pieces of silverware remain in New Zealand and the All Blacks are back on target for the biggest rugby prize of them all after grinding out a 26-12 win over Australia in Auckland tonight.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was a mixture of exhaustion and elation
as he lifted the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations Trophy after a bruising test, the last for both teams before the World Cup starts in France in seven weeks.
After a season of inconsistent performances, the All Blacks clamped control up front in an impressive second-half display.
It was the winning of a test marred by wet weather, with the Wallabies never looking like they would get their hands on either trophy after prop Tony Woodcock crashed over for the only try of the game with 20 minutes remaining.
Before then, the match was a kick-fest between the accurate boots of All Blacks first five-eighth Daniel Carter and Wallabies centre Stirling Mortlock.
It was an evenly-balanced first half, with the All Blacks slightly fortunate to lead 12-9 after being outplayed at the lineout and breakdown in slippery conditions by the more efficient visitors.
Carter landed seven from eight shots at goal to keep his side in the game and ended with 21 points.
Captain Mortlock nailed all his three penalty attempts and second five-eighth Matt Giteau landed a freakish first-half dropped goal.
A turning point came with half an hour remaining when the All Blacks introduced halfback Brendon Leonard and hooker Keven Mealamu off the reserve bench for Byron Kelleher and Anton Oliver respectively.
The latter veterans -- who are both bound for French clubs after the World Cup -- had their difficulties in the first half and their replacements added much-needed energy.
The handling errors of recent tests largely disappeared even though the conditions were the worst the All Blacks had experienced this year.
Another notable replacement off the bench was Australian fullback Chris Latham, who played 30 minutes after recovering from a knee reconstruction.
Thunder and lightning greeted the teams as they ran on to the field and while the heavy downpour before kickoff subsided, intermittent rain spoiled any chance of a decent spectacle.
The All Blacks scored first when a forward pick-and-go drive -- their most effective means of attack all night -- resulted in a simple three points to Carter.
Mortlock replied in the 23rd minute from a scrum penalty, an area of the game where the Wallabies performed far better than in recent Bledisloe Cup fixtures.
Australian hit the front when second five-eighth Matt Giteau landed a remarkable dropped goal from halfway. He mishit and the ball which flew in a flat manner was confirmed to have cleared the crossbar by the third match official.
The Wallabies kept their lead when a Mortlock penalty cancelled out a Carter effort but two more to Carter -- the first from his own side of halfway -- put New Zealand 12-9 up.
Carter landed two more penalties to Mortlock's one before All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock barged over for the only try of the game in the 58th minute to open up a 23-12 lead.
It followed a long period of pressure on the Wallabies' tryline, sparked by a Leonard intercept.
The only scoring from then was Carter's seventh penalty as the Wallabies struggled for possession to mount an attack.
It was New Zealand's fourth successful defence of the Bledisloe Cup since winning it at Eden Park in 2003 and their third straight Tri-Nations title.
The victory was New Zealand's 26th in a row at home and extended their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 18.
It may well have been the last home test for Oliver, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack and Kelleher while Australian veteran halves George Gregan and Stephen Larkham have confirmed they won't play again on New Zealand soil.
New Zealand's 30-man squad to contest the World Cup was to be named tomorrow while Australia's will be announced the next day.
New Zealand 26 (Tony Woodcock try; Dan Carter 7 pen) Australia 12 (Stirling Mortlock 3 pen, Matt Giteau dropped goal). Halftime 12-9.
- NZPA
