2007 Australia vs New Zealand - Second Test:
Australia 58 defeated New Zealand 0.
Australia blasted New Zealand off the park at the end of year test in Wellington, to the tune of 58 unanswered points. Steve Matai was sent off for the Kiwis in the 24th minute, but Australia were already well on top and threatening to rack up a big score.
Israel Folau scored first, in the 15th minute, setting up a fine debut for the young Australian backline. He ran right over the top of several poor tackles by the New Zealanders in a 20-metre dummy half run. Steve Price, by contrast the oldest Australian player, scored in the 22nd minute off a regulation hit-up from 10-metres out.
From the ensuing kick-off Mark Gasnier was hit late and high by Steve Matai. Referee Steve Ganson sent Matai from the field after consulting with the video referee. The decision seemed a little harsh, as the shoulder of Matai was not swinging, and Gasnier had just let go of the ball. Considering some of the actions that Willie Mason remained on the field after in last year’s Great Britain vs Australia test in Sydney, Matai could probably consider himself unlucky.
The send-off did not have the galvanising effect on the Kiwis that the crowd had hoped for, instead they surrendered meekly in possibly their worst performance in 100 years. Greg Inglis crossed thanks to a sweet Ryan Hoffman pass in the 28th minute, Israel Folau regathered a Cooper Cronk chip to score his second in the 31st, and Jarryd Hayne forced his way through feeble defence in the 35th, setting up a 24-0 lead at halftime.
It got even better for Australia in the second half as they completely ran riot. They scored six more tries, including a hat-trick to Greg Inglis, creating a 58-0 final scoreline. It could have been as much as 66-0, had Cameron Smith converted all the four-pointers.
The sole Newcastle representative Kurt Gidley had an outstanding match. The Steve Matai hit that left Mark Gasnier unconscious allowed him plenty of gametime, and even some time at his preferred fullback position. He also kicked the final goal of the match, notching up his first test match points.