New Zealand left no one in doubt they will be one of the favourites for the rugby World Cup after a clinical 30-14 victory over Australia in their Tri-Nations clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
With the tournament shortened because of the World Cup, which starts next month in New Zealand, the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with three well-taken tries to Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Flyhalf Daniel Carter added 15 points with three conversions, two penalties and a drop goal, while Digby Ioane and Rocky Elsom scored tries for the Wallabies.
Australia flyhalf Quade Cooper converted both tries, though the Wallabies had plenty of scoring opportunities only to be thwarted by a brutal All Blacks' defence. James O'Connor also missed three penalties.
Carter opened the scoring with a 38-metres penalty after David Pocock was penalised at the breakdown.
Scrumhalf Piri Weepu then sparked the All Black's first try when he expolited a weak Wallabies' blindside defence to sprint untouched for 30 metres before the home side switched play back across field for Nonu to barrell over.
The Wallabies spent the next 20 minutes hammering away at the All Black's defensive line only to be thwarted time and time again, with only a clever cross kick from Cooper that Ioane failed to gather in the in-goal area their only real chance.
The All Blacks' second try again came from deep inside their own half as they burst down field before Nonu got within centimetres of the line only to be stopped just short. Mealamu, however, scooped the ball up and wrestled his way over.
Carter converted to give the All Blacks a 17-0 lead, but O'Connor could have reduced that advantage twice in the final 10 minutes of the half only to scuff both penalty attempts.
O'Connor missed another penalty opportunity after the break and Carter twisted the knife, extending New Zealand's lead to 20-0 when he landed a drop goal from 25 metres.
Australia, however, showed their potent attacking ability when Genia and Beale combined to put Ioane into space for the Wallabie's first try.
Australia looked to have gone to sleep at the re-start, though, as Kieran Read contested the ball and Smith scooped it up before sprinting clear and putting Sivivatu over. Carter's sideline conversion extended the lead to 27-7.
The All Blacks' dominant scrum earned them a penalty in the 68th minute inside the Wallabies' 22, which Carter converted to give the home side an unassailable lead, before Elsom added a consolation try with less than five minutes remaining.
