SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2013 SPORTS NZ continue unbeaten run DUNEDIN: Flanker Sam Cane’s outstanding ducing four brilliant tries to Julian Savea, performance underlined the depth of the Cane, Aaron Cruden and captain Kieran All Blacks squad as he helped them finish Read. their domestic test season unbeaten with a “We had to work hard, I think we need- 41-33 victory over Australia in their ed to show a bit of discipline and get our Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin yesterday. roll on,” Read said. “I think when we got The 21-year-old Cane was a late inclu- down their end we got points and that was sion for Richie McCaw after the inspira- the key to it.” tional skipper suffered a calf injury at train- Cruden added three conversions and ing on Thursday, though it failed to provide four penalties before he was replaced by any disruption to the world champions’ Beauden Barrett, who slotted a penalty that performance. Cane was earmarked by capped the home side’s scoring. Hansen last year as McCaw’s successor, The Wallabies provided plenty of though he had struggled to stamp his endeavour and kept playing until well after authority on games or indicate he was the final hooter despite the fact a convert- adjusting to the test level. ed try could not win them the game. His performances this season, however, The difference, however, was they were in which he had started five previous tests restricted to ticking the scoreboard over in have been widely praised by the All Blacks three-point increments, with Quade management. Cooper slotting three penalties and a drop He provided the impetus for his side in goal in the first half before winger Adam yestrday’s third and final match against Ashley-Cooper crossed for a try in the 40th Australia, which was a ‘dead rubber’ after minute. the All Blacks clinched the symbol of trans- The Wallabies were also unable to match Tasman supremacy earlier in the year, with the All Blacks ability to pass out of tackles his defence, linking play, work at the break- and put their support players into space, down and storming runs. with many of their attacking thrusts “He is just getting better and better with snuffed out and the ball turned over. game time and experience and it’s nice to They went into the break 30-19 down know we have got another one in the cup- and while they outscored the home side in board,” coach Steve Hansen said of Cane’s the second half, Matt Toomua’s try was set performance that ensured the All Blacks up when Tevita Kuridrani intercepted a have now not lost a test at home since Savea pass as the All Blacks closed in on 2009, a run of 30 successive matches. another try. The victory also kept the Wallabies win- Kuridrani’s late try also made the score- less against the All Blacks in New Zealand line close, though in reality Read’s try after since 2001. The All Blacks, who have won all a sustained buildup that swept back and 10 of their tests this year, have also now forth across the field about 15 minutes ear- won 29 of their last 31 matches since the lier had put the game beyond doubt. “We beginning of the 2011 World Cup and never like to lose but we are proud of the despite the closeness of the final score, the effort the guys put in,” Wallabies captain home side were too good for the visitors. James Horwill said. “We wanted to make They were ruthlessly efficient at turning sure that we were always trying to win the possession into points, either striking from game and to keep on swinging no matter DUNEDIN: Isreal Folau of Australia is tackled by New Zealand’s Sam Cane (left) during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between the New deep or building phases down field, pro- what the scoreboard said.” —Reuters Zealand All Blacks and Australia. —AFP Aplon drops Springboks hint as Province win JOHANNESBURG: Gio Aplon raised his hand ened during the second half. the scoring for the record 32-time champions. yesterday for a place in the Europe-bound “Gio is a fantastic player who has great feet Playmaker Elton Jantjies slotted three penal- Springboks squad as he helped Western and constantly breaks the line,” 1999 Springboks ties for Lions and full-back Marnitz Boshoff-the Province reach a second consecutive Currie Cup Rugby World Cup coach Mallett said on the leading Currie Cup scorer with 92 points-con- final. The full-back won rave reviews from former SuperSport TV channel. verted a Warren Whiteley try. national team coach Nick Mallett and fly-half Botha also lavished praise on the 31-year-old Patrick Lambie, second-choice Springboks Naas Botha after his try triggered a 33-16 victory who scored five tries in 17 Test appearances, but fly-half this season behind Morne Steyn, con- over Lions in Cape Town. has been constantly overlooked by current tributed 23 points for Sharks with a try, three Title-holders Province host Sharks next coach Heyneke Meyer. conversions and four penalties. Saturday in a repeat of the 2012 decider after “I cannot understand why Gio is not in the A try each from two substitutes, veteran for- the Durban outfit won 33-22 at home to national squad-he is such a consistently good ward Jacques Botes and back Heimar Williams, Cheetahs in the other semi-final. performer at Super Rugby and Currie Cup levels.” completed the tally for the home side, who led Johannesburg-based Lions led twice early South Africa play Wales, Scotland and France 16-7 at half-time. and were trailing by only one point late in the during November with the touring squad due to Former Springboks full-back and centre opening half at Newlands when Aplon made his be announced two days after the Currie Cup Francois Steyn, back after an injury lay-off since mark. Receiving possession in a crowded mid- final. May, had a quiet game for Sharks. field, the ‘Pocket Rocket’ found a way past sever- The flair of Aplon was a constant threat while Flanker ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, centre Johann al would-be tacklers before unleashing his pace fly-half Demetri Catrakilis punished Lions’ indis- Sadie and prop Schalk van der Merwe scored to dive over in the corner. The superb solo score cipline with five penalties and also scored a try Cheetahs’ tries, right-wing Riaan Smit kicked a gave Province breathing space and after turning and kicked a conversion. A couple of penalties conversion and fly-half Johan Goosen a conver- over 18-9 ahead, the were never seriously threat- from substitute fly-half Kurt Coleman completed sion and a penalty.—AFP Simpson sizzles in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS: Former US Open champion Webb Simpson wielded a red-hot putter as he piled up nine birdies to charge into a four- shot lead in Friday’s second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. American Simpson, who teed off at the par-four 10th hole, had only one bogey on his way to an eight-under-par 63 at the TPC Summerlin in the second event of the PGA Tour’s 2013-14 season. The North Carolina native, who won last year’s US Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco, birdied five of his last nine holes to post a 15- under total of 127. Fellow Americans Jeff Overton (68), Jason Bohn (64), JJ Henry (71) and Chesson Hadley (66) plus Australian John Senden (66) share second place four off the lead at 11-under. Bohn matched Simpson’s nine birdies but carded a double bogey five on the penultimate hole to LAS VEGAS: Webb Simpson watches his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the Shriners drop back. “The ball was really Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. —AFP going far,” Simpson, 28, told Golf Channel after hitting 15 of 18 with a 24-under total and also shot par-five ninth, despite a poor drive this year, but my one goal every greens in regulation and needing a 63 on Friday to move into a tie for that forced him to lay up, before he year is to get better, and I felt like I only 24 putts. seventh at 10-under. struck a nice approach shot to nine got better,” Simpson said. “I was wondering why scores “I think the one synonymous feet. “I was happy to finish the Tour INCHEON: Anna Nordqvist (center) of Sweden tees off at the third hole during the were so low yesterday but the thing is patience, because the US Earlier, he rolled in a 25-footer at Championship with a good, solid second round of the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship. —AFP course played a little shorter than I Open you obviously have to the par-four sixth, after hitting it to tournament. Getting better, so thought it would. “I just putted well remain patient because you’re not inside 10 feet at the previous hole. that’s all I care about.” Nordqvist, Hull-Kirk and kept it going. I think guys are going to make many birdies,” While the world number 24 has not Among the surprises to miss the going to keep making birdies so Simpson said. won since his US Open break- three-under cut were International I’ve got to keep the hammer “But here it’s not like every hole through, he has been in consistent team Presidents Cup members tied for lead in Korea down.” is a birdie hole so you have to form.