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Message: [QUOTE="Big Pete, post: 2632860, member: 1899"] Second half... Australia receive the ball in the opening set and it's clear that GI is in the dressing sheds forcing a reshuffle. Walker to fullback with Guerra playing right centre. Taupau earns NZ their first opportunity of the game, earning a penalty for a ruck infringement against Thaiday. Fortunately for the Australians, Brown threw a dusty pass from dummy half and SJ comes up with an unforced mistake. However, as Australia attempt to get their way back into the contest, Jennings loses the ball just inside the Kiwis half. The Kangaroos actually did a fairly good job of restricting the Kiwis to 30m, but on the last SJ places a good kick into the corner. That play really hurt the Australians and they struggled to make 22m giving NZ another crack at them as Eastwood burst through a would be tackle from Smith. Moments later, SJ was able to score a lucky solo try giving NZ the lead for the first time in the match. 18-12 NZ. From the kick-off, it looks like Bromwich loses it but it's ruled a strip against Woods. Replays show that it was a 50/50, Woods had his hand wrapping the ball but there was no stripping motion. From the ensuing set, Johnson places a lovely cross-field kick for Whare who takes a screamer of a catch and falls over the line. 24-12 and the game is slipping away for the Australians at this point. Bird comes back into the game for Aaron Woods and makes a good charge, beating the tackle of Taumalolo, making 15m and getting a good quick play the ball for Smith. Cronk uses the momentum to dab a smart chip kick into the corner that beats Hiku on the bounce and should earn the Australians a repeat set but Mansour over-runs on the chase, allowing Hiku to make 20m and restore the momentum for NZ - a huge play. NZ continue their ascendancy as SJ launches a fantastic bomb that nearly results in a try to Gerard Beale. Fortunately for the Australians, Taumalolo was caught hitting Cronk with a shoulder charge in the back, giving them a penalty to hit back. Unfortunately it comes to naught. Smith from dummy half calls an audible, goes to Farah who kicks it straight into Foran who races a good 25m until Bird cleans him up. Kiwis continue to make ground at will at this point as they establish an overlap on the right but Tohu Harris holds the pass up too long, forcing Whare back inside who loses it in the cover defence. NZ are given another opportunity as Mansour is caught up in the play the ball. Taumalolo continues to impress as he shrugs off defenders left and right until Mansour makes up for his earlier indiscretion, doing well to mark the ball in-goal to earn the Australians a 7 tackle set. Smart play from Josh, but SJ should have played it through the hands, Kiwis had developed an overlap. Unfortunately, as Australia were building momentum, Cronk put through a dinky kick intended for Tupou, but Beale takes it comfortably when Australia still had 3 more plays. Bad play from Cooper. Fortunately he earns a reprieve as Leuluai throws a shocking pass to the boot laces of SJ who loses it on the half-way. Another golden opportunity for the Australians and they go very close through Guerra but in the end, Cooper Cronk puts through a pedestrian cross-field kick to Tupou who bats it back to Hoffman who loses it while attempting to clean up. It was good kick pressure from Blair who absolutely nailed Cronk, but a sad end to the set of six. Australia once again caught trying to score on every set rather than building pressure. NZ do well to force Australia into the corner but are caught not playing to the whistle as Daniel Tupou looked to have lost the ball while attempting to offload. This allowed Jennings to race 40m odd giving Australia another golden opportunity at the Kiwis. Despite earning six again, Australia blow their opportunity as Greg Bird throws a desperate offload to Cronk on the second tackle who can't take it. NZ turn defence into attack, SJ launches another high torpedo bomb, Walker can't take it and NZ are able to send the ball left for Nightingale who makes ammends for his earlier mistake. 30-12 and it's essentially game over. With ten minutes to go, it was really just a case of NZ looking to put on the finishing touches while Australia tried to add some respectability to the scoreline but true to their form all evening, couldn't hold onto the pill. [B]Overall[/B] - NZ played well. Australia looked rattled and rusty. I thought the two tries the Kiwis scored, that gave them their lead were pretty fortunate and Australia have a lot more improvement in them than the Kiwis do. Couple of adjustments, and they'll handle the Poms easily. [/QUOTE]

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