New Zealand complete Rugby Championship with 33-13 win over Australia

New Zealand 33-13 Australia, Wellington

New Zealand completed a double over Australia as they sealed a 33-13 victory in the final round of the Rugby Championship in Wellington on Saturday.

The win has pushed New Zealand to second place in the table with 16 points while Australia had a forgettable competition having lost five out of the six matches that saw them finish at the last.

The game also saw former captain Sam Cane making his 100th appearance for the All Blacks on what was his final home game.

Australia scored the opening try of the game in the 9th minute as Fraser McReight powered from close range to get the side off the mark and Noah Lolesio kicked the conversion to take them to a 0-7 lead.

The All Blacks responded back in the 17th minute when Wallace Sititi and Anton Lienert-Brown combined to send Sevu Reece over the line but Beauden Barrett starting at fly half kicked the conversion wide making it 5-7. As New Zealand were pinged for not releasing the ball, Australia won another penalty which Lolesio converted extending their lead to five points.

New Zealand struck back early in the second half as Will Jordan showed great footwork and went past the Australian defence to touchdown and Barrett's conversion put the All Blacks in front with a 12-10 lead. Cane conceded a penalty for a tackle off the ball and Lolesio kicked the three-pointer to perfection to ensure a 12-13 lead.

With the half time approaching, Lienert-Brown offloaded to Caleb Clarke for their third try and Barrett landed a simplest conversion taking New Zealand to a 19-13 lead by the end of the opening half.

New Zealand extended their lead by the 56th minute when Tamati Williams powered his way over after they won a penalty advantage and this time Barrett kicked the extras as the bonus point came for the hosts while taking their lead to 26-13.

With no further resistance from the Wallabies, New Zealand completed their fifth try with Clarke going past Hunter Paisami to dot down as they completed a 20 point victory.

Team line up:

New Zealand XV: Jordan; Reece, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; Barrett, Perenara; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Vaa’i, Sititi, Cane, Savea.

Reserves: Aumua, Williams, Tosi, Tuipulotu, Jacobson, Ratima, McKenzie, Havili.

Australia XV: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Pietsch; Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Tupou, Frost, Williams, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (capt).

Reserves: Paenga-Amosa, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Flook.