All Blacks Crush Wallabies in Opening Test

The All Blacks were just too good for Australia, winning 47-29 in the opening 2013 Investec Rugby Championship Test in Sydney, ensuring a torrid debut for new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who took over from New Zealander Robbie Deans last month, The Telegraph reported.

“The World Cup champions scored six tries to two to hammer the Australians, who were playing under McKenzie for the first time. Winger Ben Smith (pictured) became the first All Black to score a hat-trick of Test tries in eight years with other tries to skipper Richie McCaw, Aaron Cruden and Conrad Smith.

“Cruden, who had a fine match along with scrum-half Aaron Smith, finished with 20 points from his try, three conversions and three penalties.

“It was the All Blacks’ 15th win in their last 19 encounters against the Wallabies to maintain their dominance in the Bledisloe Cup, which they have held since 2003.”

New Zealand meets Australia again, in Wellington on 24 August, and then Argentina on 7 September in Hamilton.