The All Blacks can seal their 11th-straight Bledisloe Cup win with victory over the Wallabies tonight in Wellington. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 5.35pm AEST.
After an evenly contested first half, the Wallabies had looked well and truly in the game at 25-19 down with 40 minutes to play.
Minutes into the second half that margin was narrowed to just three points, and a sizeable home crowd at ANZ Stadium began to consider a major upset.
But the All Blacks’ irrepressible second stanza, in which they put on 22 points to run out 47-29 winners, enough to ensure they’d head back across the Tasman as the firm favourite to lift the Bledisloe Cup – again.
That said, the build-up to tonight’s game hasn’t gone exactly to script for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
The loss of Aaron Cruden to a knee injury, in addition to the unavailability of Dan Carter, means Hansen has had to call on the uncapped Tom Taylor to fill the breach, overlooking the more-experienced Colin Slade.
In addition, Brodie Retallick has been named in the starting XV for the injured Luke Romano after he suffered an adductor tear and was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
For the Wallabies – despite Ewen McKenzie coming in for his first game as coach – it was more of the same.
Australia’s woes at the first five position continued with an up-and-down debut by Matt Toomua while McKenzie’s back three of Jesse Mogg, James O’Connor and Israel Folau also struggled to make an impact.
On top of that, the Wallabies’ scrum continued to demonstrate how far they have to improve to match the world’s best forwards.
But an unwavering McKenzie has resisted the temptation to make mass changes to the starting XV, making only the one switch.
Hugh McMeniman’s season-ending shoulder injury has forced him to miss, meaning Scott Fardy will come in at blindside.
Should the Wallabies somehow manage to pull an upset tonight, they will do so in the face of a poor recent record in New Zealand.
The Wallabies last tasted success against the All Blacks on New Zealand all the way back in 2000, when John Eales’ penalty after the siren gave Australia a famous 24-23 victory.
Since then they’ve lost to the All Blacks 14 times in New Zealand, with the most recent encounter at the ‘Cake Tin’ being a 33-6 All Blacks in back in 2009.
But the Wallabies will have taken confidence in the fact the All Blacks will be starting an untested flyhalf in a Bledisloe Cup game, and if McKenzie’s men can get at the All Blacks’ ten they might keep it closer than first thought.
Tio
Guest
My way of thinking is that the rugby union cant compete with rugby league scouts throwing money at these up and coming school kids who want to play league.So what can you do when money is involved.It would be nice to have some of these bulky league props playing Union but it all comes back to money again.Anyway a bulky league prop is only used to punch up the middle with his running and not pushing in scrums.And that almost looks pathetic.
Tio Ratapu
Guest
Ill try to explain it mate about how the game has changed.If a losing team studies how they lost,and on a replaying the video they tend to follow the winning teams actions in their future games,you know like browns cows.So its not whos changed it.Its just a fact of the game and where its going, technology plays a big part to.And Id also like to add the first team who can adapt to any new rules that the governing body has made is very beneficial to them.Because they can get through a game without being pinged to often.
alan
Guest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XSvsFgvWr0
alan
Guest
the game must go out to the public schools and the potential talent there. These private schoolboys, with some exceptons, are not up to it More Props from league and please, no crap about how it's so special it's beyond the mungos
alan
Guest
the game has changed. Who changed it and why? Nothing worse than seeing forwards among backs
Tio
Guest
I see your point about mongre!Got to agree with that.But you had it in Higginbottom.That was until they made him captain of his franchise then he went to putty.He was a bit over the top at times but he had the mongrel needed.Gone of the days when the forwards followed the ball around the field and work as an eight man pack.Now days a hooker or a prop can be out on the wing. BUT that's the way the game has changed over the years.Nothing worse than watching the ball traveling smoothly out the backline then in the middle of it theres a prop and you can just about count on him to drop it.I presume you are talking about Deans being dumped.I also agree with you on that point.Its proven to be not his coaching that has the Aussies where they are its the players themselves.Surely in this land there are more hungry players out there willing to mongrel up. Im stumped as to whats been happening with Genia to.Quade can be very unsure of himself at times and when that happens during play he will almost certainly stuff up.He also can be brilliant(Hes like a lottery)never sure whats comin next.In saying this I hope the Aussie team comes right for the world cup.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Who was always going to step off his right foot. I too am noticing that Dagg is getting worse and worse at defending break outs. Sure in close he might go alright, but if you are in space, Dagg practically lets you in.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
What a curious thing to say
winston
Roar Rookie
Holy crap!
GotHim Yeah
Guest
Different game tonight ! We got caned in the set pieces and improved slightly in the ruck - but still way below the ABs in the ruck. Possession - 59% to the Wlbys - Wow ! Every other stat pretty close except for 1. Turnovers - Wlbys turned it over 25 times to the ABs 14. So we have the ball a lot but then turn it over at crucial times - and ABs are the best at counter attack in the world. We lose the game ! It is the most frustrating thing being a Wlbys supporter - we have all that possession and territory and don't convert it into points. You have to be decent to get all that possession and territory in the first place. Yes or No ? We did not get whipped by the worlds best - it was closer on the score-board and in performance. We are improving.
patknux
Guest
You have to face facts here guys the all blacks are far superior in every area of the game. The biggest thing that .needs to change is the forwards with no mongrel.in the wallabie pack and sooky lack lusterways performances from the tight five who seem to go missing when it gets tuff then its always going to be hard for genia to shine being a all black supporter since birth it is not hard to see where the aussie team is going so wrong an when you dumped one of the greatest coaches around for that chump. Whose at the reigns now then you no that your nations team is always on the back foot ....... P.s. get rid of cooper for good aswell or at. Least till he learns to tackle always harder when its 14 against 15
RobC
Guest
My mistake. I thought the possible offside was in same phase as the try.
Mike
Guest
No, I was the Mike who pointed out when you got your facts wrong, or fired off knee-jerk responses to others' posts before reading them properly. However, there are at least three of us posting on the Roar so perhaps it was another one... ;)
Justin3
Guest
I reckon I could have scored them all. He's benefited from his team mates and opposition for nearly of those tries.
Mike
Guest
"Hate to say it but there appears to be a mental block with several of the Brumbies players and whether that’s come from Jakes coaching is hard to tell. But it was evident in the first match also." It more likely comes from pushing players into test before they are ready, simply because of their current "form" in S15. Form at provincial level is only one of the factors to be taken into account when selecting test players, and sometimes it can be misleading.
atlas
Guest
"train like then ABs:" yeah, little things like scoring tries - that's eight in two matches Ben Smith's seven this season equals the Wallabies season total last year it was Savea, 12 in nine matches. Do they take turns left wing/right wing?
Misha
Guest
That assessment based on one tackle with opponent going 100 mph? Dagg has made many awesome tackles
Misha
Guest
If he had pointy ends he would be good for litter
Misha
Guest
Genia the King is Dead - long live the new King Aaron
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Bmwwilliams. You hit it on the head. It has everything to do with the systems around them and the environment. If Toomua made his debut for the All Blacks we would be singing his praises i have no doubt. I kinda feel sorry for those guys coming into what is effectively (against the All Blacks) a losing environment. Is there a hell of alot of difference between Toomua and Taylor? probably not, but one had an armchair ride. The All Black environment makes everyone look good, the Wallabies at the moment have the opposite effect.