VIDEO: All Blacks toy with Wallabies
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT: For almost 40 minutes Australia thought they were in the game. In the end, New Zealand scored a comprehensive 38-13 win in the Bledisloe Cup opener.
The Wallabies held a 6-5 lead at half-time – with the opening try, by the All Blacks, being scored two minutes before the break.
However, another five tries saw the All Blacks score the most points ever (33) against Australia in the second half.
Despite the comfortable win, there will be concern over the concussion suffered by All Black centre Ryan Crotty in the 12th minute – following a collision with teammate Jack Goodhue.
The Wallabies have injury concerns heading to Bledisloe Two next week – with fullback Israel Folau having twisted his ankle just past the hour mark.
Jack Goodhue scored a brilliant debut try and made the most of his opportunity in the absence of Sonny Bill Williams, slotting in seamlessly and rising to the occasion after his fellow centre, Crotty, suffered an early injury.
Penalties from Reece Hodge and Bernard Foley gave the Wallabies a 6-0 lead, but Aaron Smith’s try on the stroke of half-time reduced the deficit to just a point in Sydney.
The defending Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship champions then turned on the style in the second half.
Goodhue and Beauden Barrett scored superb tries, before Brodie Retallick went over and Waisake Naholo claimed a late double as Steve Hansen’s men ran away with it.
Barrett showed why he remains the All Blacks’ first-choice flyhalf, pulling the strings in Sam Whitelock’s 100th appearance for the World Cup champions.
Jack Maddocks marked his international debut by scoring Australia’s only try, but they were unable to pull off a repeat of their win over their Trans-Tasman rivals last October.
Man of the match: Israel Folau was well-watched, Kurtley Beale struggled to get his game going and mostly Bernard Foley was ineffective. Will Genia, David Pocock and Michael Hooper were the Wallabies most productive players. You can always rely on players like Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and Aaron Smith to cause problems for the opposing defence. Kieran Read was as effective as ever, Sam Cane a monster at the breakdown, while Samuel Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were among the unsung heroes. However, as always Beauden Barrett was the magician and involved in a number of brilliant plays – winning our award.
Moment of the match: There were two crucial scores – just before and just after the break – the Aaron Smith try in the 38th minute and the Jack Goodhue try in the 42nd minute. Those tries effectively ended the game as a contest.
Villain of the match: No real villains, unless you want to point to South African referee Jaco Peyper’s annoyingly constant claims of ‘I did not see that’ whenever the Wallabies questioned him about an error he made.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Maddocks
Cons: Foley
Pens: Hodge, Foley
For New Zealand:
Tries: A Smith, Goodhue, Barrett, Retallick, Naholo 2
Cons: Barrett 4
Teams:
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Jack Maddocks.
All Blacks: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Karl Tu’inukuake, 18 Tim Perry, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Thomas Perenara, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
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