Sports: All Blacks Retain Rugby Championship Title
New Zealand locked away the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship trophy for another year, extending a solid start to the World Cup season with a 38-7 win over Australia on Saturday, July 29.
The All Blacks finished with a perfect 3-0 record in the shortened Championship and, by winning the first leg of the two-leg Bledisloe series, extended their hold on the trans-Tasman trophy to 21 years.
They were expected to win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After a 41-12 win over Argentina and 35-20 win over world champion South Africa, the All Blacks came into the match massive favorites against the winless Wallabies.
But there still was a frisson of doubt.
Coach Eddie Jones selected and talked up an exceptionally young Wallabies team, and the prospect of a big upset briefly raised its head when they seized an early lead.
By halftime, New Zealand was ahead 19-7 with tries to Shannon Frizell, Codie Taylor, and Will Jordan, and the specter of unexpected defeat had effectively been laid.
Though they were under pressure early in the second half, New Zealand scored three tries while Australia was reduced to 14 men by a yellow card, and that made a close match one-sided.
A yellow card in the first half also was expensive for Australia.
Source: Le Monde with AP and AFP