Last-gasp Smith sees Kiwis pip England
NEW ZEALAND’S 20-year unbeaten run at Eden Park continues after Conrad Smith’s 78th-minute try saw them snatch a 20-15 victory over understrength England in the first of a three-Test series.
The score was deadlocked at 9-9 as late as the 64th minute, with the visitors’ outstanding Freddie Burns matching the kicking exploits of Aaron Cruden.
The All Blacks only led for the first time with nine to go when Cruden kicked his fourth penalty after England’s Marland Yard was sin-binned. But even though Burns responded and the returning Danny Cipriani did likewise five minutes later to make it 15 each, there was an air of inevitability about the result.
And when Cruden surprisingly opted to tap and go with a penalty in front of the posts, the resultant pressure on an overstretched England eventually told. Jerome Kaino and Wyatt Crockett both went close before brilliant hands from Ben Smith put namesake Conrad over in the corner.
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, seven-try Australia romped to a 50-23 demolition of France. Kurtley Beale capped his comeback by going over in the secondhalf.
Israel Folau, Adam AshleyCooper, Michael Hooper, Matt Toomua, Nick Cummins and Pat McCabe also got tries while Bernard Foley kicked 15 points as they eased to a 50-9 lead.
Morgan Parra crossed the line for France late on before they secured a penalty try, both converted by Frederick Michalak, to offer some late consolation.
It wasn’t all positive for the Wallabies, however, as they lost captain Stephen Moore to a nasty looking knee injury in the first-half.
Elsewhere, Dan Lydiate is fit to captain Wales in their opening game in South Africa against Eastern Province Kings on Tuesday.