Summary Will Genia and James O'Connor scored tries for the hosts.
SYDNEY (AP) - New Zealand opened the Rugby Championship with a commanding 47-29 victory over Australia on Saturday, extending its dominance over its trans-Tasman rival and spoiling Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie s first game in charge.
Despite missing star flyhalf Dan Carter through injury, the All Blacks always looked in control against a mistake-prone Australia. Ben Smith scored a hat trick of tries and Aaron Cruden, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith also crossed in a bonus-point win for the world champions at Sydney s Olympic stadium.
Will Genia and James O Connor scored tries for the hosts. The All Blacks will retain the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy contested annually between the Australasian rivals, for the 11th straight year with a victory next week in Wellington.
On this performance, McKenzie will need a vast improvement from his players if they are to have any chance of competing in the four-team Rugby Championship, which also features South Africa and Argentina.
As was the case in the lost series to the British and Irish Lions in June and July, the Wallabies made its cause difficult with numerous individual errors, giving the visitors frequent scoring opportunities.
Stephen Moore s knock-on in the opening minutes gave the All Blacks an early opportunity to pressure the Wallabies goal-line defense. It was a chance they eagerly grasped, with Aaron Cruden getting on the outside of James O Connor and flicking a one-handed pass for Ben Smith to cross, unchallenged for a converted try after four minutes.
Referee Craig Joubert gave the Wallabies an immediate opportunity to respond, but Jesse Mogg s long-range penalty shot sailed narrowly wide. The Wallabies were given another chance shortly after when Kieran Read barged into Rob Simmons off a high midfield kick. This time, centre Christian Lealiifano made no mistake to narrow the deficit to 7-3.
Australia closed to within a point on 12 minutes through Lealiifano after Joubert penalized New Zealand captain Richie McCaw for playing the ball while off his feet at the ruck.
McCaw quickly redeemed his error, forcing Adam Ashley-Cooper into holding the ball in a ruck, giving Cruden an opportunity to extend the lead to 10-6.
Australia again responded through a penalty from Lealiifano after yet another ruck infringement in the 22nd minute.
The Wallabies captured the lead minutes later but it lasted less than 60 seconds after a poor attempted clearance by Lealiifano was charged down by Cruden, with the flyhalf able to score with ease for a 17-12 lead.
The home team s task was made harder when Jesse Mogg s clearance kick failed to find touch in the 33rd minute, giving the All Blacks prime territory to launch another attack. After several phases close to the Wallabies line, Aaron Smith fired a wide pass that eventually allowed McCaw to dive over in the corner to make it 22-12.
The Wallabies received a lifeline after the All Blacks fumbled the ball on its line-out. It was swooped on by Michael Hooper, who passed the ball for Will Genia to sprint 60 yards and beat Cruden, Ben Smith and then Israel Dagg s desperate attempted tackles to score under the posts. Lealiifano added the extras to narrow the score to 22-19.
In keeping with the see-saw nature of the contest, the Wallabies were caught offside by Joubert in the final minute off the half, to give Cruden a simple penalty shot to give the visitors a six point lead, 25-19, going into halftime. The Wallabies started the second half brightly and Lealiifano again drew the Wallabies within three points with another penalty.
In the 51st minute, the Wallabies yet again conspired to allow the All Blacks score its fourth try, and a bonus point, when Jesse Mogg dropped off Conrad Smith, allowing the center to dash over under the posts. Cruden added the conversion to stretch the lead to 32-22.
The hosts misery was compounded when the All Blacks won possession on Australia s scrum feed in the 57th minute and quickly played the ball wide. Ben Smith found space to dive over in the corner for a 37-22 lead and end the match as a contest.
Quade Cooper was brought on from the bench in the 61st minute, his first international appearance since September 2012. The Queensland Reds playmaker was greeted by a chorus of boos from the large All Black supporter contingent amongst the crowd of 68,765 people.
It was Cooper s opposite number that continued to do the damage on the scoreboard, with Cruden again slotting a penalty goal in the 66th minute to bring up 40 points for the All Blacks.
Ben Smith scored his deserved hat trick in the 71st minute when the winger latched on to a spilt ball at a ruck to dash to the line.
Beauden Barrret, who replaced Cruden moments earlier, converted from wide out for a 47-22 lead.
Australia scored a late consolation when O Connor found space out wide in New Zealand s defensive line. Lealiifano converted to narrow the final score to 47-29.
Scores:
New Zealand 47 (Ben Smith 3, Aaron Cruden, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith tries; Cruden 3 conversions, 3 penalties, Beauden Barrett conversion) def. Australia 29 (Will Genia, James O Connor tries; Christian Lealiifano 2 conversion, 5 penalties). Halftime: 25-19.
