New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald repaid the faith of the selectors by kicking 17 points to guide the All Blacks to a 22-16 victory over Australia in a Tri-Nations clash at Eden Park on Saturday. A surprise choice to start the match ahead of Luke McAlister, Donald slotted five penalties – four in the second half alone – and converted Richie McCaw's try to ensure his team recorded its 20th successive victory at Eden Park. The All Blacks have not lost at the ground since 1994, and their last defeat to Australia here came in 1986. Australia flyhalf Matt Giteau slotted three penalties and converted Berrick Barnes's fourth minute try for the Wallabies, who spent most of the second spell pinned in their own half and battling into swirling, chilly winds. The Wallabies dominated the opening 10 minutes, with Barnes ghosting through some porous All Blacks' defense after Adam Ashley-Cooper made a telling midfield break, got to his feet and made another. Giteau converted the try then added a penalty to give the visitors a 10-0 lead before Donald slotted his first penalty. Barnes then blew an opportunity to extend the lead when he failed to find one of six support players with just three All Blacks desperately defending the line. When he finally fed George Smith, the flanker dropped the ball with the tryline open. A converted try at the time could have cemented a potential game-winning 17-3 margin inside the opening 18 minutes as the All Blacks struggled with their lineout and defensive pattern against an attacking Wallabies backline. New Zealand heads to South Africa on Sunday for two matches against the Springboks, with the first next Saturday in Bloemfontein.
