All Blacks end Wellington hoodoo with victory over Wallabies
MATCH REPORT: The All Blacks have beaten the Wallabies 33-13 in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Wellington, their final home game of the year.
The victory ends the hosts’ six-year losing streak in the city and means the All Blacks finish the Rugby Championship with three wins and three defeats.
Former captain Sam Cane became the 13th All Black to play 100 tests, while he and halfback TJ Perenara were playing their last tests on New Zealand soil.
The All Blacks scored five tries to one in a fast-moving contest to stretch their winning streak against the Wallabies to nine straight matches.
Wing Caleb Clarke scored two tries as New Zealand overcame a slow start to overwhelm Australia in their final match of the Rugby Championship.
Having trailed for much of the first half, the home side took a 19-13 lead on the stroke of half-time through an audacious try by Clarke before dominating the remainder of the contest.
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies crashed to their fifth Rugby Championship defeat of a troubled campaign and remain without a win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil since 2001.
It was an improved finish to the match for Scott Robertson’s New Zealand, who have faltered badly in the closing stages of several recent Tests, including last week’s 31-28 defeat of the Wallabies that saw them retain the Bledisloe Cup.
As with the Sydney contest, both teams adopted a ball-in-hand approach, with the in-form Clarke a chief beneficiary as he took his tally to seven tries in five Tests this year
It was the last home Test for two long-serving New Zealand players, with flank Cane and scrumhalf TJ Perenara both moving to Japan clubs at the end of the year.
Beauden Barrett, who started in place of Damian McKenzie at flyhalf, landed four conversions for the All Blacks while Wallabies counterpart Noah Lolesio kicked eight points, including the conversion of their lone try scored by Fraser McReight.
Australia was awarded the first six penalties of the match and dominated the opening stages resulting in flanker McReight burrowing over.
The All Blacks improved their discipline and registered three tries before the interval, all to outside backs.
Wing Sevu Reece capitalised on a break and accurate long pass from centre Anton Lienert-Brown to score, before fullback, Will Jordan danced through the defence for his 35th try in 37 Tests.
The home side turned down a simple penalty shot at goal on the stroke of half-time and their gamble paid off, with Lienert-Brown’s pass sending Clarke through and untouched next to the posts.
New Zealand’s forwards took the upper hand as the game wore on and the result was put beyond doubt when replacement prop Tamaiti Williams and Clarke touched down in quick succession midway through the second half.
The Wallabies finish bottom of the four-nation Rugby Championship, with their solitary victory a one-point defeat of Argentina.
New Zealand will finish second or third, with the tournament champions to be decided when leaders South Africa host the Pumas later Saturday.
Man of the Match: Another sublime Jordan performance to bully the Wallabies on a dry flat track in Wellington. He scored a brilliant solo try, returned kicks with vigor, and threatened regularly.
Scorers:
For Wallabies:
Tries: McReight
Cons: Lolesio
Pens: Lolesio 2
For All Blacks:
Tries: Reece, Jordan, Clarke 2, Williams
Cons: B Barrett 4
Yellow card: Caleb Clarke (All Blacks, 76’- cynical play)
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 David Havili.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Josh Flook.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England); Damian Schneider (Argentina)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)