Australia 6 New Zealand 20: match report

Absolution is within the grasp of the All Blacks, a chance to atone for sins past and opportunities missed if they do as they did 24 years ago and beat France in a World Cup final.

That meeting next Sunday already has the air of a coronation about it after New Zealand’s clinical, cold-eyed victory over their rivals from across the ­Tasman and current Tri-Nations champions.

The All Blacks were voracious at the breakdown and unrelenting in defence. There was no one, but no one, coming through. This was ­

top-drawer stuff, a performance to send a shiver through any prospective opponent. The Wallabies were packed away with some ease. One more ­victory and the entire New Zealand nation can come off the Prozac.

Long before the final whistle, the capacity crowd was chanting 'Four More Years’, a taunt first used by ­Wallaby George Gregan when ­ Australia were on their way to a final after defeating the All Blacks in 2003. Revenge was sweet.

The scoreboard could have been even more unflattering to Australia, with New Zealand missing 14 points through kicks.

Surely, France – fragile, febrile, bonkers France – cannot confound logic and deny New Zealand their moment of redemption? Not on the evidence of this weekend. If they do, it will be time to turn out the lights and close the country down.

Robbie Deans, the Wallaby coach and former All Black, had little doubt as to who will prevail.

“The intent is there with the All Blacks, they’re an experienced group and they’re hungry,” said Deans, passed over for the All Black coaching job four years ago when Graham Henry was retained. “They’ll take a lot of stopping from here.”

Inevitably there was a degree of caution expressed by the winners. “The job isn’t done yet,” said Henry. “It’s important we get our feet back on the ground. But the boys were heroic tonight.”

There had been anxiety in the Auckland air all day in the build-up, a fretfulness based on the potential quality of the opposition as well as on the curse that has blighted the world’s dominant power the past two decades as they have tried and failed to claim the Webb Ellis Cup.

It did not take long for those ­worries to be eased. From the moment Public Enemy No 1 here, the New Zealand-born Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper put the kick-off straight into touch, the momentum was with the All Blacks. Cooper was rattled with several bone-crunching tackles.

It was not his finest evening, the last piece of action seeing him shovelled into touch by his one-time primary school class mate, the All Black wing Richard Kahui.

New Zealand’s aerial and kicking game was assured with the wing Cory Jane rising imperiously time and again to take the ball. Not far behind Jane in terms of influence was the young full-back Israel Dagg, with his turbo-charged change of pace and exhilarating instinct for counter-attack.

It was Dagg’s electric break that created the only try in the fifth minute, the full-back zipping through a gap and popping the ball infield to Ma’a Nonu, who tumbled over.

There was not a phase in which New Zealand were bested. Their scrum became ever-stronger and No 8 Kieran Read grew in stature.

Second-row Brad Thorn is indestructible, despite his advancing years, while Richie McCaw was huge-hearted, irrepressible and a hands-down

winner in his battle against the ­Wallaby openside, David Pocock.

We may have begun to wonder if there was a passing of an era to note, with the All Black skipper a fading force. Those notices are premature.

New Zealand targeted Pocock, running at him to draw him into the first tackle. McCaw also had the benefit of a dominant pack to work behind. Nonetheless, his job has not been completed yet. He has got more ball to pilfer and a cup to hoist above his head before he can rest easy.

If there was one element of the evening which suggested the omissions of previous years have been corrected, it came when Aaron Cruden popped over a dropped goal midway through the first half. The three points were acclaimed as if the Webb Ellis pot had been placed in the Eden Park trophy cabinet.

If the All Blacks had had a similarly pragmatic attitude four years ago they might not have lost to France. Cruden also showed a bit of devil in attack. The 22-year-old fly-half does not look as if he will be fazed the final.

The Wallabies were disappointing, even if they did rally after a poor start. They were leaden through the midfield while Cooper was edgy. Only wing Digby Ioane caused the All Blacks any problems.

It seemed as if New Zealand’s crisp start would lead to further scores. Instead they had to rely on the boot of Piri Weepu to earn reward for their dominance.

The scrum-half, though, was fallible, missing three penalty kicks and a conversion. Sonny Bill Williams was sin-binned for a shoulder charge on Cooper. James O’Connor with a ­penalty goal and Cooper with a drop ped goal got a meagre return for Australia.

The Wallabies had been easily contained. Now for France.

Match details

Australia XV: A Ashley-Cooper; J O'Connor, A Faingaa, P McCabe, D Ioane; Q Cooper, W Genia; S Kepu, S Moore, B Alexander, D Vickerman, J Horwill, R Elsom, D Pocock, R Samo.
Replacements: J Slipper for Kefu (21), R simmons for Vickerman (60), B McCalman for Samo (60)
Scores: Pen: O'Connor. D/G: Cooper
New Zealand XV: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Kahui; A Cruden, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, S Whitelock, B Thorn, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.
Replacements: A Ellis for Weep (57), A Hore for Mealamu (65), SB Williams for Nonu (73)
Scores: Try: Nonu. Pen: Weepu (4), D/G: Cruden
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)