All Blacks extend winning streak over Australia

New Zealand 32 Australia 19

Dan Carter scored 22 points to lead New Zealand to a 32-19 win over Australia today, extending the All Blacks' streak to seven in Bledisloe Cup tests.

Centre Conrad Smith crossed for a try early in the second half and Carter converted to give New Zealand a 20-16 lead.

The All Blacks were always in front after that, Carter adding four further penalties to Matt Giteau's one.

"We didn't have a lot of field position in the first half," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said. "We got a lot more in the second half and that gave us much greater opportunity to attack and we did."

Carter became the all-time leading scorer against Australia with 207 points, surpassing Andrew Mehrtens who had 202.

The Tokyo test played before a near-capacity crowd at the 50,000-seat National Stadium was promoted as a chance to take the sport to expanding markets.

It was only the second Bledisloe Cup test played outside of Australia or New Zealand following last year's match in Hong Kong, which the All Blacks won 19-14.

Giteau opened the scoring for Australia with two early penalties. Carter responded with a penalty before winger Sivivatu scored the opening try of the match in the 20th minute.

Sivivatu was sin-binned for tackling a player in the air late in the half and Australia made the most of an extra-man advantage with a try to Peter Hynes in the right corner to give the Wallabies a 16-13 lead.

It was the fourth Bledisloe Cup of the year and was New Zealand's win, equaling its 1962 one-season record of four wins without a loss in tests against Australia.

The last time the two teams played, New Zealand beat Australia 33-6 in Wellington.

"Today was a better effort than our most recent outing against them," Australia coach Robbie Deans said. "There was a lot more physicality and our work around the break down was better."

Both teams head for Europe for end-of-season tours, with Australia missing playmaker Berrick Barnes for its Grand Slam attempt against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Vice-captain Barnes was injured two days before the Tokyo match and ruled out of the tour.