Smith scores hat-trick as All Blacks crush Wallabies

The All Blacks crushed Australia 47-29 in the opening Rugby Championship Test in Sydney on Saturday, condemning new Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie to a losing start. The World Cup champions scored six tries to two to hammer the Australians, who were playing under McKenzie for the first time since he took over from Robbie Deans last month. The All Blacks ruthlessly exploited the Wallabies' shaky defence and stormed home for a bonus-point victory and their 100th Test win over Australia after leading 25-19 at halftime. Winger Ben Smith 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. McCaw was back for his first Test in almost nine months after a sabbatical. Cruden meanwhile had a fine match, finishing with 20 points from his try, three conversions and three penalties. "I am obviously very happy with the performance. It's not every day that you can come here and get 40-odd points. I thought both teams played good rugby," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. "For Richie McCaw to get through 70 minutes after having his break and everyone doubting him just shows the character of the bloke once again, while Aaron Cruden showed that he's a true international player of world-class ability and he led the team very well." 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. The optimism of a new start under McKenzie quickly died out for the home side, with dynamic winger Israel Folau hardly seeing the ball and debut fly-half Matt Toomua replaced by Quade Cooper on the hour. "Every time you lose a game it's disappointing. We were level-pegging there for some time in the game, but you have to respect possession," McKenzie said. "When we had possession at times we did some good things, we made a bunch of line breaks, but then we didn't treasure the ball enough." The All Blacks hit the ground running and the Australians had to defend their line before Cruden put winger Ben Smith over in the right corner in the third minute. Christian Lealiifano reduced the margin with an eighth-minute penalty and McCaw conceded a ruck penalty for Lealiifano to kick his second penalty to reduce the All Blacks' lead to one point. McCaw redeemed himself when he won a ruck penalty for Cruden to put the All Blacks out to a 10-6 lead after 20 minutes, only for Lealiifano to kick the Wallabies in front for the first time 12-10 with two penalties off ruck infringements. But the All Blacks scored against the run of play when Cruden charged down Lealiifano's clearing kick to score and convert in the 29th minute for a 17-12 lead. Worse was to come for the Wallabies minutes later when McCaw plunged over wide out for his ninth career Test try against Australia and a 22-12 advantage. Will Genia threw the Wallabies a lifeline minutes before the break with a sensational 60-metre converted try off a Michael Hooper break and Australia trailed 22-19, before a Cruden penalty gave the visitors a 25-19 halftime lead. Shortly after the resumption Lealiifano kicked a fifth straight penalty for the Wallabies to trail 25-22. The hosts sniffed a way back. But the All Blacks swiftly countered for their bonus-point fourth try with centre Conrad Smith scoring near the posts for a 32-22 lead. The Wallabies were pushed off the ball in a scrum and newcomer Steven Luatua took play close to the Australian line before Ben Smith went over for his second try as the rampant All Blacks swept to a 37-22 lead midway through the second half. Cruden kicked his third penalty as New Zealand hit 40 points, but they weren't finished and Ben Smith became the first All Black to score a hat-trick of tries since Doug Howlett eight years ago with his third touchdown eight minutes from the end. James O'Connor scored Australia's second try in the final minute, but it was a mere consolation. Source: AFP