Boost for England as Australia are beaten by the all Blacks

AUSTRALIA slumped to a comprehensive defeat against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday - handing a confidence boost to next weekend's opponents England.

The Wallabies were startled by the power of the New Zealanders, who won 30-13 with Zinzan Brooke and Josh Kronfeld scoring two tries apiece in Christchurch. Kronfeld put in a man-of-the-match performance while his fellow members of the back row - Brooke and Taine Randell - also dominated their Australians.

Brooke's first came from a push-over in the first-half, and he also scored from a serum in the second.

The Wallabies were pressured into constant errors by waves of All Blacks attacks with Kronfeld and captain Sean Fitzpatrick spearheading excellent second and third-phase possession.

Australian stand-off Tim Horan, also playing his 50th Test, scored for his team while goal- kicking lock and captain John Eales added the conversion and kicked two penalties.

Australia, who entertain England in Sydney on Saturday, have centre Pat Howard out with a broken leg, and injury worries to stand-off Horan and flanker Brett Robinson.

England coach Jack RoweIl has received some encouraging news ahead of next Saturday's Test.

Lions wing Tony Underwood is confident that he can play despite suffering a thigh injury during the third Test defeat by South Africa.

RoweIl's list of absentees for this one-off match - the timing of which has been widely criticised - is currently approaching double figures.

Lions captain Martin Johnson, centre Jeremy Guscott, prop Jason Leonard and serum half Kyran Bracken were among eight players who had already ruled themselves out before Underwood was hurt.

"Hopefully, I will be okay for next weekend," said the Newcastle wing.

"X-rays have shown that nothing is broken, or chipped, just a bruised bone.

Underwood's experience will be crucial for England, especially considering that they have never won a Test match in Australia and are banking on at least a dozen Lions overcoming inevitable post-tour tiredness.

Bath centre Guscott withdrew last week, citing family reasons as he wanted to spend time with his newly-born daughter.

But he wou1d not have made it- anyway after breaking a bone in his left arm during Saturday's Test at Ellis Park, an injury which-forced him off at half time.

Guscott has been told to expect between a six and eight week lay-off.