Mils Muliaina of New Zealand's All Blacks is tackled by Ben McCalman of Australia's Wallabies (R) during their Tri-Nations Bledisloe Cup rugby match in Auckland Saturday. — Reuters AUCKLAND – New Zealand left no one in doubt they will be one of the favorites for the rugby World Cup after a clinical 30-14 victory over Australia in their Tri-Nations clash at Eden Park Saturday. With the tournament shortened because of the World Cup, which starts next month in New Zealand, the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with three well-taken tries to Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Flyhalf Daniel Carter added 15 points with three conversions, two penalties and a drop goal, while Digby Ioane and Rocky Elsom scored tries for the Wallabies. Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper converted both tries, though the Wallabies had plenty of scoring opportunities only to be thwarted by a brutal All Blacks' defense. James O'Connor also missed three penalties. “It was great to win and the Bledisloe Cup is very important to Richie (McCaw) and the boys,” All Blacks coach Graham Henry told reporters. “They're delighted about that and the way they played the game. “They played very professionally. I thought the defence was outstanding.” “We are pretty disappointed with our effort,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said. “Tactically, we probably didn't help ourselves. We allowed the All Blacks to establish the d-line (defensive line) and allowed them to establish some line speed in that defence and that stymied our attack.”
