The Stats Don't Lie: Richie McCaw missed most tackles

Dan Carter made the least number of tackles with just one successful attempt and two misses. Photo / Getty Images

There were signs of what was to come in the first half when, with almost their first touch of the ball, the All Blacks were counter-rucked and conceded a penalty within the first minute of play.

The All Blacks had to defend for long periods in the first half, making a total of 84 tackles and 16 assists - which was 67 per cent of the total tackles and assists they had to make in the entire game.

Top tackler was Victor Vito with 15 tackles and two assists. Dan Carter made the least number of tackles with just one successful attempt and two misses.

Richie McCaw missed the most tackles with a total of four, but made nine successful tackles along with seven assists.

The All Blacks turned the ball over 16 times in the game, with nine knock-ons making up half the total. The Wallabies managed to steal ball off the All Blacks four times at the breakdown.

The Wallabies conceded 12 turnovers, with six knock-ons and four tackle turnovers lost.

The All Blacks conceded eight penalties, four in each half. Five came at the breakdown, while the other two were ill-discipline with an early tackle by Ma'a Nonu and obstruction on a ball chaser by Isaia Toeava.

Top ball carrier was Keven Mealamu with 14 carries for a total of 55 metres gained. Brad Thorn was fourth on the list for ball carries with 11, but second best in metres gained with a total of 50.

Victor Vito showed great workrate with 12 ball carries and 15 ruck arrivals, but also knocked the ball on three times.

It only took the All Blacks 19 minutes in the second half to pull back a 17 point deficit to draw level on the scoreboard, but they immediately conceded a try to give the Wallabies the winning five point margin.

THE GOOD

A change of gameplan at halftime saw the All Blacks bring some patience to their game and string some phases together, the best being the 28 phases that led to Conrad Smith's try.

Every single All Black forward upped their workrate at the breakdown in the second half, with Tony Woodcock and Sam Whitelock more than doubling theirs.

McCaw won three tackle turnovers and seems to be back to his best form.

Ali Williams got stuck into his work this week when he replaced an injured Adam Thomson, being in the first three to arrive at the breakdown 24 times.

The All Blacks won 100% of their lineout throws and secured overthrown ball off the Wallabies' lineout on two occasions.

Dan Carter kicked at 100 per cent in this game.

THE BAD

That it took until halftime for the game plan to be changed.

Zac Guildford had a night he would probably like to forget, knocking the ball on three times in the first half.

An injured Adam Thomson only missed two tackles in his 38 minutes on the field, but one of those was on Radike Samo who then bolted 50 metres to score.

The All Blacks missed 14 tackles in the first half.

FOR THE RECORD

This is only the third time Australia have won the Tri Nations, the last time they won was in 2001 and their first tournament win came in 2000.

Dan Carter was the top scorer in the 2011 Tri Nations competition with a total of 35 points.

Conrad Smith's try was his 20th for the All Blacks and takes him to a century of points scored, the 24th All Black to have reached this tally.

This is the first test match the All Blacks have lost when Piri Weepu has started at halfback (18 games in total).