Winger Manu Vatuvei scored two first-half tries to help lift New Zealand to a 26-12 win over Australia Sunday in a one-off rugby league test that was played two days late after being postponed because of flooding.
New Zealand opened a 26-6 lead at halftime with Vatuvei's double and tries to Shaun Johnson and Shaun Kenny-Dowall. It then defended tenaciously in the second half, failing to add to its score but allowing only a single try to Will Chambers.
The win was New Zealand's third in a row over Australia, the first time it has won three-straight tests against the Kangaroos since 1953. The streak includes last year's Four Nations final.
A crowd of 32,000 watched Sunday's match, which was due to be played at Suncorp Stadium on Friday when officials decided to delay it when the playing surface became inundated.
Torrential rain caused flooding throughout south-east Queensland state, claiming five lives. Match organizers postponed the match because of fears for player safety and the safety of fans as floods blocked highways and caused traffic gridlock.
New Zealand was unaffected by the delay, playing with purpose, combination and crisp efficiency from the outset. Australia, in contrast, looked out of sorts, wasting possession and faltering in defence throughout the first half.
Johnson opened the scoring with a penalty in the seventh minute, before Australia seized the lead with a try to Sam Thaiday, converted by Johnathan Thurston.
The Australian resurgence was short-lived and New Zealand seized control of the match with tries by Vatuvei in the 20th and 28th minute. Johnson scored in the 29th minute to lift New Zealand to an 18-6 lead and Kenny-Dowall's try immediately before the break effectively put the match beyond Australia's reach.
The Kangaroos attacked continuously throughout the second half but New Zealand's defence was up to the challenge. The only points of the half came from a scrambled try to Chambers in the 58th minute.
The Australian team is the third-oldest in its test history, with an average age of 28-1/2, and Sunday's match provided further evidence that several key players are now past their best.
While Vatuvei was named man of the match, Johnson again was the instigator of much of the Kiwis' attacking play.
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New Zealand 26 (Manu Vatuvei 2, Shaun Johnson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall tries; Shaun Johnson 5 goals), Australia 12 (Sam Thaiday, Will Chambers tries; Johnathan Thurston 2 goals). HT: 26-6.
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