Video Highlights 04/11/2008: Washington Capitals-Ottawa Senators 1-2 OT (NHL)

New Zealand claimed their ninth Tri-Nations title and their fourth in a row when they beat Australia 28-24 in a thrilling deciding match on Saturday. Trailing 7-10 at halftime, the All Blacks stormed back to score three converted tries in the second half and overrun a tiring Australian outfit. Australia battled bravely throughout and enjoyed long periods in attack but could never break clear of their arch-rivals and once the All Blacks sensed they had the better of the Wallabies they gradually took control. Fly-half Dan Carter scored the winning try with 12 minutes left to seal the victory, although Australia kept the 52,000 fans on the edge of their seats when they crossed with two minutes to go to get to within four points. But it was too little too late as New Zealand took out both the Tri-nations title and the Bledisloe Cup.

Wing Jongi Nokwe became the first player to score four tries in a Tri-Nations match as South Africa routed Australia 53-8 on Saturday. Nokwe’s tries complemented by four more from lock Andries Bekker, centre Adrian Jacobs, replacement flyhalf Ruan Pienaar and wing Odwa Ndungane. Fly-half Butch James converted three tries and added a penalty, while replacement full-back Percy Montgomery added two conversions.

Australia beat South Africa 27-15 in Durban to end the world champions’ Tri-Nations title hopes. The victory was Australia’s first in South Africa since 2000 while new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers endured his fourth defeat in five Tri-Nations matches. Captain Stirling Mortlock (pictured) and winger Lote Tuqiri scored second-half tries to seal the Australian victory although South Africa closed the gap in the final quarter with two tries by centre Adrian Jacobs.

New Zealand shamed world champions South Africa 19-0 in their Newlands Cape Town home in the Tri-Nations. Conrad Smith, Dan Carter and Keven Mealamu scored the tries for the All Blacks. Percy Montgomerie made his 100th appearance for South Africa but missed two penalties, while Carter also missed a host of set-pieces for New Zealand while adding two conversions. The victory took the All Blacks to the top of the table and revived their chances of retaining their title.

New Zealand broke a two-game losing streak by thrashing Australia 39-10 in a Tri-Nations match at Eden Park on Saturday. New Zealand dominated the match and kept their hopes of defending their Tri-Nations title alive after winning their 19th game in a row at their Auckland stronghold. All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter had an outstanding night with the boot, kicking five penalties and two conversions for a tally of 19 points. With injured captain Richie McCaw making his return, the All Blacks played with far more determination than in their 34-19 loss to Australia last week.

Australia shocked New Zealand 34-19 in the Tri-Nations in Sydney to win the Bledisloe Cup. Tries from Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom and James Horwill secured a bonus point for the Wallabies, who now top the table with nine points from the All Blacks and South Africa, both of whom have five and have played a game more. Mils Muliaina, Andrew Hore and Andrew Ellis crossed for the Kiwis. Australia began like a house on fire and raced into a 10-0 lead after only 12 minutes as New Zealand seemed to miss captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown, struggling with discipline in defence.

A pair of tries by Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock carried Australia to a 16-9 victory over South Africa in their Tri-nations match. The Springboks, who ended New Zealand’s five-year unbeaten run at home last weekend in Dunedin, were tormented by a host of errors and a failure to convert the chances they created. The top-class Australian loose trio, led by Rocky Elsom, gave a commanding display at the breakdown, where the Wallabies won a steady supply of quick ball.

A brilliant late try by Ricky Januarie saw the world champion Springboks break through a psychological barrier to beat the All Blacks 30-28 in the second Tri-nations rugby Test Saturday. n a nail-biting finish, the winning points came with less than five minutes remaining and the Springboks down to 14 men after captain Victor Matfield was sinbinned for a high tackle. Januarie, one of the smallest players on the field, chipped over All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald, gathered the ball and sprinted 20 metres to go over the line. Francois Steyn coolly landed the winning conversion for the Springboks to end a 10-year run of defeats, securing their first win on Dunedin’s notorious House of Pain ground at Carisbrook and regain the number one world ranking. It also ended a world record 30-match home winning streak by the All Blacks.

New Zealand kicked off the 2008 Tri-Nations championship with a bruising 19-8 win against world champions South Africa in Wellington. Carter slotted four penalties and converted Kaino’s second half try at Westpac Stadium to seal New Zealand’s 30th successive home Test victory. Bryan Habana scored a late first half try while Butch James added a penalty for South Africa, who had their own 14-test unbeaten run snapped with the defeat.