Carter completes Wallaby misery

New Zealand opened their Rugby Championship campaign with a comfortable 27-19 victory over Australia in the inaugural southern-hemisphere four-nation tournament, extending their hold over their rivals.

The All Blacks rarely looked tested by a nervous-looking home side as Israel Dagg and Cory Jane crossed for first-half tries, with Dan Carter adding 17 points for the world champions in front of 76,877 in Sydney.

The All Blacks have now won nine of their past 11 Tests against Australia, including winning in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup en route to a second crown last November.

Steve Hansen, the All Blacks coach, said that when coming back off a break and playing to that intensity there were bound to be errors, but he added: "I thought there were some very good displays from our guys."

Nathan Sharpe scored Australia's lone try, with the fly-half Berrick Barnes kicking 14 points. The sides meet again in the return match in Auckland next Saturday.

Later, it was announced that the All Blacks wing Sonny Bill Williams, who is also New Zealand's heavyweight boxing champion, will fight the former world title contender Francois Botha in Durban on 17 November.

South Africa hooker Bismarck du Plessis will be out for several months after damaging the cruciate ligaments in his right knee during a 27-6 win over Argentina in the Championship.

The South African Rugby Union said the 28-year-old hooker, a veteran of 46 Tests, would need surgery.

The selectors have added two uncapped hookers, Tiaan Liebenberg and Craig Burden, lock Juandre Kruger, prop Dean Greyling and scrum-half Jano Vermaak to their squad for the game against Argentina in Mendoza next Saturday.

Zane Kirchner, Marcell Coetzee and Bryan Habana grabbed tries and the fly-half Morne Steyn steered South Africa to victory over Argentina at Newlands in Cape Town, with three conversions and two penalties. The Pumas' points came from two penalties by the fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez.