Defining Great on Eden Park

New Zealand has beaten Australia 3-14 to claim a record ninth straight Tri-Nations victory, and the Bledisloe Cup, at Auckland’s Eden Park. The World Cup favourites scored tries through Ma’a Nonu, Keven Mealamu and Sitiveni Sivivatu to take control. New Zealand made seven changes for the clash and fielded the oldest starting line-up in Tri-Nations history. Backs coach Wayne Smith said of mid-field players Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith: “They’re both special players. The characteristic I like about them most is the bigger the game, the better they get. That’s what defines great players.” The All Blacks next play the Spring Boks in Port Elizabeth on 21 August.