Emotional Win

The All Blacks have retained the Tri-Nations title for the fourth successive year, beating the Wallabies 28-24 in Brisbane. Sustained by the brilliance of captain Richie McCaw and also Rodney So’oialo, the All Blacks scored three tries in 17 minutes. Dan Carter’s three conversions which pulled them clear completed a stellar performance. “It was just a sweet feeling. We have won four Tri-Nations titles but this was probably the sweetest because we had a number of new guys who had never played before,” said coach Graeme Henry. Former All Black captain David Kirk, who led the All Blacks to a Rugby World Cup victory in 1987, wrote: “The All Blacks played calm, intelligent rugby while the Wallaby fire raged about them. They won less than 40 per cent of the ball in the first half and spent virtually no time in the Wallaby 22 … And through it all they kept their composure and they won well.”