All Blacks thrash Australia to close in on championship title

and have not yet “met the criteria required by the Fifa congress as a prerequisite for lifting their suspension”.

As such, Zimbabwe have been disquali ed from their African Cup of Nations quali cation group, meaning Zemura will certainly miss out on next summer’s competition, even if his country’s ban is lifted by Fifa.

— Bournemouth Echo

AUCKLAND – New Zealand put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy after romping to a 40-14 win over Australia with a bonus-point victory in Auckland on Saturday.

Tries by Will Jordan, Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock and Samisoni Taukei'aho plus a

rst-half penalty try at Eden Park kept New Zealand top of the table in the nal round of matches.

New Zealand will retain the Rugby Championship title unless South Africa claim a bonus-point win by a huge margin over Argentina later in Durban.

The hosts earned their third straight win in emphatic style. The Wallabies saw their horror record at Eden Park extended to 23 straight defeats against New Zealand dating back to 1986.

Australia only had the consolation of converted tries by Folau Fainga'a and Jordan Petaia in front of a sell-out crowd of 47,000 in Auckland.

The visitors paid dearly for their ill-discipline in the rst half as forwards Jed Holloway and David Porecki were both sent to the sin bin as New Zealand built up a 17-0 lead at the break.

– AFP