All Blacks Win Tri Nations, Aussies Hang Their Politicians Out to Dry

Weekend round-up

New Zealand's All Blacks won a thrilling cliff hanger of a rugby test in South Africa to take the Tri-Nations crown for 2010, adding it to the Bledisloe Cup won a fortnight ago against the Wallabies.

Meantime, over the ditch in Australia, voters hung their politicians of all persuasions out to dry. Nice one, Aussies! 

All in a weekend's work, as they say.

All Blacks Shut Out Springboks 19-0 in Tri-Nations

The All Blacks improved their chances of retaining the Tri-Nations rugby trophy by shutting out South Africa's Springboks in Capetown, 19-0. In yet another highly physcial, frantic-paced game between the two sides, the All Blacks came out on top with tries to Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Keven Mealamu backed up by two conversions by Carter. These offset Carter's wobbly day in the goalkicking department in which he missed 7 goalkicking opportunities including 2 drop goal attempts. But it was just the day for a bad kicking game when other scoring opportunities were taken.

With games scheduled between Australia and South Africa over the next two weekends, it may come down to the final game between the All Blacks and Wallabies in Brisbane on Sept. 13 to decide the winner of the Tri-Nations, the southern hemisphere's international test rugby trophy. Current standings place the All Blacks on top with 14 points, Australia 9, and South Africa 5.