Sport

Aussies claim centenary triumph
by Gareth Maher, 09 May 2008

Australia stormed to a 28-12 victory over New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in what was an emotionally-charged evening.

This was a centenary match between two proud rugby nations that first came up against each other one hundred years ago on May 9.

Just as the build-up to the game was starting news filtered through that legendary coach Jack Gibson had passed away, which added even more intensity to this duel before the action had even started.

A high tackle from Paul Gallen in the opening exchanges fired up the New Zealand team, who looked ready for battle from their haka that sent chills down many a spine.

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Then Johnathan Thurston took control of the tie as he made some crunching tackles and then sent a kick into the corner that Greg Inglis had to leap high to keep it in touch.

It was quite remarkable that Inglis was able to jump as high as he did and knock the ball back to Mark Gasnier before it had gone out of play. That left Gasnier with room to score the first try of the game.

A curling conversion from Thurston added more points in favour of the hosts, and it was not long before they were celebrating again.

Issac Luke had made an excellent line break for the Kiwis, only for the South Sydney player to fall short as the whitewash came into his sights. That sparked the Australia into life.

Gasnier got his second try of the game on 14 minutes after he sold a decoy to his marker and crashed over in the same corner that he had first scored from. Thurston hit the post with his conversion.

The floodgates were wide open in the midfield area and Gallen took full advantage as he bulldozed past an array of New Zealand players to score a try at the Paddington End and give Thurston a central position to kick the conversion from.

With everyone else taking turns at dismantling the Kiwi defence, captain Cameron Smith decided to join in as he sneaked over the line beside the posts. The TMO was needed to confirm that he had not made a double movement.

At this stage it was 22-0 and Australia trotted in at half-time wondering if they were going to be contested in this centenary match.

A quick response was needed after the break, and it duly arrived when Iosia Soliola beat four players and went over the line to register New Zealand's first score of the game.

That try inspired them to stage a fightback as they kept hold of the ball and tightened up their defence. Sonny Bill Williams was unreal and the Bulldogs player showed plenty of class as he continued to scrap in each tackle.

The killer blow came when Israel Folau, who is the youngest player to represent Australia at test level, finished off an impressive attack that was ignited by a cross-field kick from Thurston.

With time running out New Zealand got a second try through Sam Perrett. The number five almost scored earlier in the game, so was fortunate enough to have another chance of lighting up the scoreboard.

Luke added the conversion, despite being interupted by a streaker, but it was not enough to stop Australia from securing a historic win.