New Zealand preserved rugby’s established hierarchy with a 50-19 blowout victory over Australia that secures the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th year, and pushes the All Blacks’ unbeaten run over the Wallabies at Eden Park into a fifth decade.
The Wallabies lost touch with their hosts in the second half despite a valiant but futile defensive performance led by captain Harry Wilson, who had scored a try just before half-time to keep his side in the contest.
Les Kiss’s side will return home bruised and disappointed, with their unbeaten run extinguished at six matches. Most of all, however, they will rue a missed opportunity early in the second half that marked the match’s decisive point.
An attacking lineout 5 metres from the All Blacks’ tryline was comfortably brought to ground, but the Wallabies’ forwards were over-eager in forming the maul. The ensuing penalty and the All Blacks’ patience in possession flipped the field, and beginning with a try for their scrumhalf Cam Roigard, the hosts were soon out of reach.
New Zealand scored five tries in the second half and kept the Wallabies scoreless until a late consolation try from bench hooker Josh Nasser. The All Blacks reached 50 points at the final whistle with a runaway try for Will Jordan.
Though the defeat will sting, and continues the All Blacks’ long dominance in their trans-Tasman series and at Eden Park, the Wallabies will find positives in pushing the world’s No 2-ranked side at their site of historic dominance for the first 50 minutes.
The second period, however, shows how much work Kiss and his players need to do if they hope to contend for the World Cup on home soil next year. Indeed, another heavy loss to the All Blacks in Sydney next week will undo much of the momentum cultivated under their first-year head coach.
The Wallabies dominated the early proceedings, and had the home side pinned inside their half for the first 10 minutes of the match. Their confidence was obvious when Wilson declined the opportunity to kick for goal.
Although a Len Ikitau knock-on prevented a try following that promising position, the visitors were soon over anyway. A lovely backline move from around the halfway line, featuring a delicate tip on from five-eighth Ben Donaldson that sent a streaking Tom Wright over for the first try.
The Wallabies looked immaculate, and very much the side that had knocked off the world champion Springboks. It proved a mirage.
Donaldson kicked out on the full when the Wallabies were looking to consolidate their advantage, and the contest turned. Within five minutes, they found themselves down by two tries to one. Both could be put down to defensive lapses in the midfield, where the All Blacks carved up the gold jerseys like they were butter in the afternoon sun.
Apart from that initial 10 minutes, the All Blacks spent most of the first half in control. By 29 minutes in, they turned down the chance for a penalty goal. And though an error prevented a score in that forward foray, they were soon up by 10 thanks to another penalty.
The Wallabies produced their best series of phases just before half-time, however, to haul themselves back into the contest. Strong running from Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii helped them march into the New Zealand half, then interplay between Wilson and Donaldson cracked open the home side just outside the 22.
All Blacks’ No 8 Wallace Sititi was committed to the straight run of Wallabies’ flanker Rob Valetini, creating space on the outside for Donaldson who slipped through the gap. Wilson remained alive for the inside ball, crossing for a try that left the contest evenly poised at 17-14 at half-time.
Though the Wallabies’ tries book-ended the first 40, it was largely controlled by the All Blacks. Australia remained in the contest thanks to their lineout, which secured possession twice against the throw via the stretched left arm of Jeremy Williams, who also forced a turnover at the ruck. The Australia defence shored up after their early leaks, and kept working throughout the second half.
A scrambling Lonergan made a crucial interception to keep the margin to three early in the second period, but after that crucial lineout giveaway, Roigard snuck over to push the lead back to two tries.
The marauding home side proved their quality in the second half, running in tries to captain Codie Taylor, substitute Josh Moorby, Jordan, and winger Leroy Carter, who unfortunately was forced off injured in the action thanks to an apparent hip drop tackle by Valetini.
