Awesome All Blacks | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

New Zealand's relentless pressure and masterly forwards overwhelmed Australia in a brutal 20-6 semi-final win at Eden Park on Sunday to put them in sight of a first Rugby World Cup triumph in 24 years.

The All Blacks will be overwhelming favourites when they return here next weekend to play in a rematch of the inaugural 1987 World Cup final against France, also at Eden Park, which New Zealand won 29-9.The Australians came off second best in the physical and tactical exchanges in the intimidating atmosphere of the All Blacks' Eden Park fortress, where the Wallabies haven't won since 1986.The Tri-Nations champions were bloodied and beaten in every aspect by a ferocious New Zealand onslaught, that saw the hosts dominate from the opening kickoff and flustering the Wallabies into a multitude of errors.Dynamic New Zealand ended a tense week of concerns over the fitness of captain Richie McCaw as they proved far too good for the Australians.The Wallabies now have to console themselves with a bronze final with Wales on Friday -- a repeat of the 1987 third place playoff.Not only did Australia lose on the scoreboard but they had a lengthy injury toll with prop Sekope Kepu coming off with a facial injury after 21 minutes and Dan Vickerman and Pat McCabe going to the blood bin for running repairs.It was another shaky night for Australia's scattergun playmaker Quade Cooper, who was guilty of many poor options much to the roaring approval of the 60,000 capacity Kiwi crowd.The Wallabies' last win in New Zealand was 10 years...