All Blacks blow Wallabies away to retain Bledisloe Cup
MATCH REPORT: New Zealand powered clear in the second half to beat Australia 50-19 on Saturday, extending their remarkable unbeaten record at Eden Park and retaining the Bledisloe Cup.
The All Blacks led 17-14 at half-time before scoring five tries in the second spell as they stretched their run of matches without defeat at the Auckland venue to 54.
The hosts put the disappointment of their recent 3-1 series loss to South Africa behind them while handing a first defeat in six Tests to Wallabies coach Les Kiss since succeeding Joe Schmidt in July.
The seven-try performance means the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup – the trophy contested annually between the two nations – for a 24th straight year regardless of the result of next week’s second Test in Sydney.
The Sydney match takes on extra significance as the same two teams will contest a Rugby World Cup pool match there in a year’s time.
Damian McKenzie kicked 15 points with the boot and helped spark some slick All Blacks attacks from flyhalf.
However, it was his opposite, Ben Donaldson, who created both of Australia’s first-half tries, tapping the ball on cleverly for fullback Tom Wright for the opener.
New Zealand responded smartly through tries to loose forwards Peter Lakai and Tupou Vaa’i, with McKenzie’s eye for a gap twice playing a role.
McKenzie’s penalty pushed the hosts 17-7 clear, but a Donaldson break sent Wallabies captain Harry Wilson over just before the interval.
New Zealand took control after the break, with rapid-fire strikes resulting in tries to scrumhalf Cam Roigard and captain Codie Taylor.
Any hopes of a late Wallabies rearguard disappeared when Leroy Carter backed up the outstanding Lakai to score.
Carter injured his leg in the process of scoring and was seen with crutches at the end of the game, which will probably mean an end to his season.
Carter’s replacement Josh Moorby and Will Jordan both crossed late for New Zealand while Josh Nasser rounded out Australia’s scoring.
Man of the match: Jordie Barrett was exceptional in open play, especially on defence. He made 16 tackles and carried the ball 18 times, making 33 metres in the process.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Lakai, Vaa’i, Roigard, Taylor, Carter, Moorby, Jordan
Cons: McKenzie 6
Pen: McKenzie
For Australia:
Tries: Wright, Wilson, Nasser
Cons: Lonergan 2
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan De Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Josh Moorby.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Harry Potter.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (RFU); Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
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