New Zealand Defats Australia 49-28 to Extend Lead in Rugby's Tri-Nations

New Zealand beat Australia 49-28 in rugby’s Tri-Nations to seal an eighth straight win over the Wallabies and extend its championship lead.

Mils Muliaina touched down twice as the top-ranked All Blacks ran in seven tries to three at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium. Australia’s Drew Mitchell was sent off in the 43rd minute for a second yellow card.

Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko and Corey Flynn also scored tries for New Zealand. Mitchell, Adam Ashley Cooper and Rocky Elsom touched down for Australia.

New Zealand’s run of eight straight victories in Trans- Tasman rugby Tests is the longest in 63 years. The All Blacks won a record nine games in a row between 1936 and 1947.

Today’s victory lifts New Zealand to 15 points at the top of the standings, 11 ahead of the Wallabies before their meeting in Christchurch next week. The southern hemisphere’s annual championship then moves to South Africa for three games.

The match doubled up as the first of four Bledisloe Cup encounters between the Wallabies and All Blacks this year. New Zealand has held the 79-year-old trophy since 2003.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney at dbaynes@bloomberg.net

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