The Wallabies’ torturous Bledisloe Cup drought will drag on for an 11th year after the All Blacks once again proved themselves more powerful and clinical in an 27-16 triumph at Westpac Stadium.
Despite a highly-promising opening in Wellington, Australia paid the price for poor one-on-one defence and an outgunned scrum for their second defeat in a week to the world champions.
Two Ben Smith tries in the last 13 minutes of the first half, including a sucker punch on halftime, turned the tide of the match and the Wallabies never recovered as they struggled to play catch-up.
Australia once again failed to get star winger Israel Folau into the match but he did give a late glimmer of hope with a 75m intercept try, before New Zealand iced the result with their fifth penalty goal.
It was the Wallabies’ 15th straight loss to NZ across the Tasman dating back to 2001 and means the third Test in Dunedin in two months will be a series dead rubber.
The All Blacks’ series victory celebrations were given extra fizz with grizzled prop Tony Woodcock playing in his 100th Test.
Woodcock played a key role against Wallabies scrum anchor Ben Alexander who was also guilty of costly errors around the ground.
It was a slightly improved performance from their 47-19 first Test loss last weekend in Sydney, especially in the opening 25 minutes when they threw plenty at the home side to jump to a 6-0 lead, and feel unlucky not to be ahead by more.
The All Blacks were fortunate not to have Ma’a Nonu sin-binned for a 20th-minute shoulder charge on James Slipper, while No.8 Kieran Read could have been yellow-carded for a cynical professional foul at the ruck after a 40m break by Christian Lealiifano.
Australia played far more direct and continued to unsettle the All Blacks lineout for more first-half possession but couldn’t finish off.
In contrast, it was all too easy for the All Blacks when they had possession in dangerous positions.
Smith’s first try came after Read claimed a midfield bomb and then the Wallabies were caught short with quick hands down the right side.
The winger’s second resulted from Nonu buckling a Matt Toomua tackle and then stand-out flanker Steven Luatau running through Alexander, and gave his side a 15-6 lead at the break.
Australia should have been ahead 9-7 after half an hour if not for a dubious overturned penalty 30m out straight in front which hurt Australia’s momentum.
But they shot themselves in the foot in promising positions for the rest of the match, highlighted by an inability to finish off a 70m break by James O’Connor just after halftime.
With the backline set but ignored, Alexander was penalised for not releasing after a series of bash-and-barge pick and goes from the ensuing penalty and driving maul.
It told of the tale of Australia’s attacking woes.
b
Guest
Very interesting assessment of the penalties in the match @T3H. Just interested in how/where you've grouped them, how do you classify an 'additional' offence ie. made after another offence that has been awarded advantage? eg. Read (offside 23:30). If you let me know where I should add these in in my assessment I'd be grateful. Regards the point on missing tackles with no arms - I disagree that 'as long as he is consistent' (especially with this type of offence). I think the point with not picking this type of offence up is that it's dangerous play, like tackling the player in the air as well. I don't mind a bit of 'consistency' - just prefer for deliberate dangerous play to be picked up. In other comments - nothing particular per your list above, just happened to be at this point in the match as I type, assessment of slipper no arms tackle on woodcock - slipper leads to enagge with head & shoulder & arms (look at the stance just before the tackle) and woodcock rolls away and to the deck - iffy at best.
richard
Guest
Hyperbole much,Johnno.There was certainly a backlash in 03,but that was based on what the ABs had done in the TN that year.99 - no one really expected that AB team to win,Aussie were favourites.The 07 team copped a serve,because there is no doubt that side was the best going into the tournament,and had the goods to win that tournament comfortably.Your comments on the players and coaches is OTT. As for the "apathy" in Aus.,that will go once the WBs start winning consistently.And that will come,as your team improves (and it will).
jimmyd
Guest
Nice research work. .. When I first saw Nonu hit Slipper with his shoulder I thought he possibly had a problem with the arm prior to contact not being able to lift it for some reason. On the replay it looked like a straight out shoulder charge. ..careless and reckless. ..that's what the assistant ref's are for.
Garth
Guest
Can't believe there weren't any yellow cards against the Wallabies for continuous illegal play at the breakedown, either.
Garth
Guest
I thought he was just hungry, missed breakfast sort of thing.
the 3rd hokage
Roar Rookie
penalties All Blacks 05:41 - off side - red zone 20:56 - (deliberate knock down) deliberate knock down - ben smith - just outside the ABs 22 23:40 - (breakdown) not releasing tackler - aaron smith - red zone 44:20 - (breakdown) holding onto ball - aaron smith - 15mtrs in the wallabies half 45:40 - (breakdown) off their feet - McCaw - red zone 56:16 - (general play) offside - all defenders on their left - red zone Wallabies 08:08 - (breakdown) not rolling away - stephen moore - just inside the ABs half 10:00 - (breakdown) off his feet - toomua (was really for not releasing) - red zone 16:10 - (scrum) diving in - slipper - 5 meters from the ABs tryline 17:02 - (breakdown) off his feet not supporting his weight - moore - 4 mtrs from the ABs 22 30:57 - (fringes of ruck) holding back - mowen - just past the ABs 10mtr line - (hore would have penalized in the red zone if not for the touch judges call) 33:26 - (breakdown) not rolling away after ABs turnover - hooper - 15meters in the ABs half 35:18 - (breakdown) not releasing tackler - ben mowen - red zone 37:02 - (general play) in the 10mtr zone while in fornt of the kicker - moore - just past half way 42:23 - (general play) obstruction - hooper - ABs 10mtr line 47:14 - (breakdown) holding onto ball - alexander - ABs tryline 48:03 - (ruck) joining ruck incorrectly - fardy - ABs 10mtr line 52:03 - (scrum) hands in the scrum - hooper or alexander - 5mtrs insdie the wallabies half 60:00 - (scrum) angling in - kepu - red zone 64:09 - (scrum) lost his bind - crockett - 18mtrs in wallabies half 68:41 - (breakdown) not rolling away - simmons - red zone 74:16 - (breakdown) hooper is penalized & i dont what for, but leilafano should have been penalized in the same ruck for not rolling away - either way red zone (and the 2nd res zone peanlty within 20secs) 79:36 - obstruction - white - just inside ABs half paypors missed calls 05:41 should have gone up for a possible try to moore 20:40 - nonus no arms tackle on slipper 32:09 - slippers no arms tackle on woodcock 34:58 - ben mowen deliberately knocks the ball on but retallick regathers - red zone 66:48 - fardy plays the man in the air during the lineout misc offenses & advantage which didnt need to be called 39:07 - ben mowen knock on - ABs retain possession with many phases afterwards, but there was zero indication that peyper saw it which he could have. 39:50 - leilafano waaaay offside in the red zone- peyper played advantage, but ben smith scored in the corner from the same phase 73:58 - (breakdown) off his feet liam gill red zone 7 mtrs from tryline - peyper called advantage, but AB continued with their attack and the wallabies ended up conceding another penalty further in the number of penalties awarded All Blacks - 6 wallabies - 17 the number of red zone penalties awarded All Blacks - 4 red zone penalties wallabies - 5 red zone penalties the number of red zone penalties that should and could have been awarded All Blacks - 3 wallabies - 7 my findings confirmed what i originally thought when i first saw the game, that peyper was ok. but i was pretty pissed and given the outrage by some of the folks here, i investgated like a pro, lolz, :oP while the All Blacks gave away some clear red zone penalties, the wallabies gave away a lot more and then some. this can easily be verified thanks to the clearly marked time of the infractions. the wallabies infractions in their red zone is something that many bloggers here dont mention at all, maybe too brainwashed by some of the worst aussie commentating ive ever heard. peypar made a few blunders, like not going up to the TMO for that possible try, it looked like there was no control of the ball and to be fair to peyper, he was in a great position to tell. but going to the TMO would have exonerated him completely, and as he south african, he knows all to well what referee whinging fans are all about, cos his country is full of them. other blunders also included nonus shoulder tackle which should have been obvious and slippers shoulder tackle, a yellow card could have been very timely then, but while its unacceptable that peyper missed them, at least he was consistent. all in all it was a decent performance from peypar, the All Blacks especially in the set peice were jsut too dominant. if there were other infractions that i havent mentioned but any peeps here feel i should have, then please feel free to name them and provide the time they occured in the game for us to check out. i was pretty through with this, but i may have missed something.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Our bombs go straight up and down. Our box kicks were charged down three times, twice in 5 minutes. I would shelf both those kicks. If you are kicking, play long. When we are so bad, and have been for years, I would leave that game alone.
Magic Sponge
Guest
"Create a fart from a plate full of sausages...General Patton v the yellow wiggle"... quality.
RF
Guest
Fardy and hooper had a great game. Toomua and Cooper combo should persist. Time to drop ben alexander Mogg to the bench or on the wing with folou at fullback Our defence was disgraceful along with our ball retention deep in attack. We actually did well considering. Only frustrated teams that have been outplayed along with phil kearns blame the ref for a loss. Well done to the AB's.
Mike
Guest
You don't know what you are talking about. Firstly that SMH piece you refer to is not a "report", its just low-quality hack writing, journalistic fluff. Its only use is torn into squares for the backyard dunny at uncle muzza's place. "And you are hell bent on keeping the few players who are hell bent on sending the Wallabies to 5th in the world." No, I am not - you are! Mediocrity appears to be your only goal. O'Connor is there for the jersey as much as any of the players you mention. I do not care how many photos are taken of him with topless female journos in tattoo parlours, I am concerned about what he does on the field. I do indeed want a "no D heads policy", hence why I have written these posts.
Peximus
Guest
Clearly! All blacks too good!.. Daylight In between followed by more daylight to never ending daylight!.. Wallabies??... Pfft!.. Pathetic as ever regardless of referees or whatsoever!
rugby_phile
Guest
Got it in one. It means it could potentially all be rapped up the week after in Auckland, barring the possibility the Pumas roll us in Hamilton. Here is hoping.
LegendaryABs
Guest
Think you got the ref confused with the wallaby scrum there brother....
LegendaryABs
Guest
You are off your head! 16 penalties to 8 and we were infringing? You're as bad as the fox sports commentators. Wait a minute, kearnsy is that you mate? Still bleating love, need a cuddle?
stillmatic1
Guest
so no mention of the consistent cynical infringements by the wallabies, short blind!? in fact, twice as many by the angelic wallabies.
DickoT
Guest
Awesome insight to the difference of New Zealand and Australian rugby..
Ra
Guest
well today is the anniversary of Martin Luther King II famous speech: I HAD A DREAM ...!!!!! Stillmissit, so Im in good company on a great day. Like it or not, Gen XYZ are playing the game today. It doesn't matter who you take out, he will more than likely be replaced by another Y or Z geneo. I don't think this is such a bad Aussie team. I have a healthy like for Mogg and after an EOYT he and a few other newbies will be much better players. I think he should go to the bench and Folau use his great frame running the ball back fro defensive takes. Im also in favour of Cooper starting and O'Conner taking over at 10 for the last 20 min next week. I like Hugh Pyle's game. Im surprised he and Douglas are not in the squad. I don't know about Cummins but I do like the big Queensland boy, and their young halfback back up. in saying all that, I think the squad you have there right now will be competitive against Argentina and South Africa, and then the EOYT. so yeah Still - I have a dream - should you, No2 in the world aint that bad eh
Ra
Guest
Nothing wrong with Izzy sweetheart; you guys don't yet know how to work him
atlas
Guest
thought he used his left ear, and that was why the South African (le Roux?) tried to bite it off
Jnrn
Guest
Lagi setu and his brother made the aussie school boy team yet still bennett got to him before any union team did in oz yet his brother is in japan now playing rugby Im kiwi live in oz have five brothers we all still play eat sleep rugby but they all play league because they have a path to follow for these young kids union in oz does not do this and cause we couldn't play it at school cause we went to public school that didn't have union teams they had soccer touch league but no union team this is we're u start learning your skills for life In the game where u learn the game where u find these kids that have the love of the game just finished watching some itm cup games hub vs bop wat a cracker of a game beau Robinson looked all rite good to see a few Aussie playing in the itm cup can onli benefit him