Arab Times

Late Barrett try seals New Zealand victory

Fonua gives Hull FC thrilling Challenge Cup win

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DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Aug 26, (AFP): Beauden Barrett saved New Zealand with a converted try less than two minutes from full-time as the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 35-29 in a cliff-hanger Test in Dunedin in Saturday.

In the frantic closing minutes the lead changed three times before Barrett sealed the deal and broke the hearts of an Australian side that had been widely written off before the game.

There were five tries apiece with the telling difference being Barrett sucessfull­y converting all five for the All Blacks while Bernard Foley landed only two for Australia.

But as much as Barrett secured the win, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen singled out Kieran Read for the way he won the restart after Kurtley Beale had put the Wallabies in front 29-28.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believed poor decision making by the Wallabies at the death cost them the game.

The victory meant the All Blacks claimed the Bledisloe Cup, contested between the two sides, for a 15th consecutiv­e year and have a perfect 2-0 start to the Rugby Championsh­ip with home and away games against South Africa and Argentina still to come.

Australia, humiliated 54-34 in the first Test a week ago, made a flying start in Dunedin, scoring after just 26 seconds and they had three tries and an unanswered 17 points on the board after 16 minutes.

Working off a pack that had the Wallabies back-pedalling at scrum time, the

Cheika

New Zealand players hold the Bledisloe Cup during the second Bledisloe Cup match between New Zealand and Australia under their Rugby Championsh­ip Test, at Forsyth Barr Stadium in

Dunedin on Aug 26. (AFP)

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