The All Blacks have claimed the Bledisloe Cup for 2016 with a 20-point win over Australia.
More of the wash-up from Bledisloe 2:
» Match report
» LORD: Sack Cheika? No way
» Seven talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make?
» DIY Player Ratings
» WATCH: Highlights from the match
Final score
All Blacks 29
Wallabies 9
The Wallabies travel across the ditch to do battle with the All Blacks this afternoon with the hopes of salvaging their Bledisloe Cup dreams inside enemy territory. Follow all the live highlights and rugby action on The Roar from 5:35pm (AEST).
The Wallabies suffered their largest defeat to New Zealand on home soil last week, going down in a helpless 42-8 demolition job to open the series.
The line out that Michael Cheika had reassured the Aussie fans not to worry about crumbled, while the 40 missed tackles from the Wallabies meant that New Zealand could waltz through the defence and pile on the points.
New Zealand are in prime position to take out another Bledisloe Cup, their 14th in a row, considering their insane record at home.
The Wallabies haven’t won a single game in New Zealand for 15 years, dating back to 2001 when John Eales was on his way out as captain. On top of that, the All Blacks have won an incredible 41 straight games at home, going undefeated for the last seven years.
Just to add one final point to sink the Australian fanbase, the Wallabies have now lost their last five Test matches, being on wrong end of a series whitewash against England earlier in the year.
It’s not all bad for the Wallabies though, they’ve scored at least one try in all of their last 22 away games, showing off their ball movement and ability to cross the line no matter the location.
Team News
Changes a plenty for Cheika coming into this one after half his backline went down injured during last week’s loss.
Matt Giteau (ankle), Matt Toomua (concussion) and Rob Horne (shoulder) were all hit with the injury stick in an unfortunate series of inside centre setbacks, even forcing Nick Phipps to play out on the wing for half the game.
Chief among these changes has been the inclusion of polarising playmaker Quade Cooper into the lineup, playing his first game since the pool stages of last year’s World Cup.
He will join Bernard Foley as fly-half and inside centre respectively, while Samu Kerevi has been put into outside centre for the matchup, beating out Tevita Kuridrani for the run on position.
Rob Simmons and Ben McCalman have both been axed from the squad, the later allowing Scott Fardy to take back the place he lost to McCalman to start with.
Dean Mumm has retained his place while big Will Skelton shuffles into the bench, likely coming on in the second half to add some muscle to the tiring forward pack.
Melbourne Rebels young star Reece Hodge has been called into the squad, and has the chance to make his international debut off the bench.
For New Zealand, coach Steve Hansen has shuffled around his backline for the second test, while also making one change to the forward pack.
A hamstring injury to Waisake Naholo has gifted Julian Savea the run on spot on the wing, while issues at inside centre for the All Blacks will see Anton Lienert-Brown make his test debut in the position.
Israel Dagg has been shuffled out to the wing, allowing Ben Smith to move back to fullback.
The ever resilient hard man Dane Coles has been rewarded for his performance last week with a starting spot at hooker. The big man came on after three minutes and played nearly the whole game with injured ribs.
Prediction
New Zealand were so strong and dominant last week it’s hard to see them fall back from that, especially with so many injuries and re-shuffles inside the Australian lineup.
Hansen has said during the week though that he is wary of a Wallabies outfit looking to redeem themselves from, what Cheika then said, was one of the worst moments in his coaching career.
You can expect a hard gutsy effort from the Australians, but history is certainly against them on New Zealand soil and there’s a reason the kiwis are number one in the world.
New Zealand to win by 22
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Didn't really enjoy the game, despite being a comprehensive All Black win. Too much niggle, too much ref, scrums a complete shambles...game never seemed to flow at all. Didn't see the Franks incident live, but on review I think hes gone for the rest of the RC. Shame, because I can't recall a dirty incident from him before..now he will be remembered for this. For the All Blacks, the pack looked good apart from the props who I thought were pretty ordinary. Charlie Faumuina looks really unfit as well, so we might have a problem with Franks's imminent suspension. Backs all had their moments with Aaron Smith and Dagg looking particularly sharp. Second test in a row the bench hasn't had any impact. Cruden doesn't seem to add anything from the bench. Fair enough having him as a reserve in case of a Barrett injury, but bringing him on and putting Barrett to FB is a step backwards in my opinion. I don't know where Aussie go from here, they are a complete mess. Attack coach and Defense coach need to be immediately replaced, whoever they are..if they have them. I have never seen an Aussie team as clueless as this on attack. Defense is awful too, you just can't miss this many tackles in a test match and have any chance of winning. Is there a game plan apart from niggling the opponent and slowing the game down? And the coach throwing his toys out of the cot and blaming the ref all the time is a bad look. Losing six on the trot does bad things in the head-space of players and coaches alike. What the Wallabies badly need is a couple of games against some minnows to get some confidence and some combinations going. Genia and Folau seem to be the only Wallabies showing any sort of form. For all the abuse that Mumm gets on this forum he appears the only Wallaby that can reliably win a line-out...just doesn't seem to add that much else to his game. The only bright spot I see going forward is the Boks don't look that great either, so you do have a chance at home against them.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Benefit*, see damn auto-correct and no edit function. What happened to that btw?
SandBox
Roar Guru
I'll give him the benefits of the doubt and say that auto-correct changed it form 'Conquering', although Condescending fits the sentence a lot better
vsan
Guest
SPOT ON Steve, couldn't agree more and lets throw our cricket team in there to and all the rest WHAT'S GOING ON
Charles Plowdog
Guest
The ABs were a better side tonight, no question but I'm concerned with the referee's performance tonight. The fact that he waved Australia's captain away, he let play go on on the WBs line when a forward was being assessed for concussion and I think only 1 time did the WBs get a penalty for holding the ball, yet twice the defender WBs were pinged for coming in from the side. I don't accept the notion that somehow Moore has to improve his communication with the refs to be allowed to talk to them. I have not heard him in many tests going over the top but referees have an obligation, and I repeat obligation, to treat both captains equally if the refereeing is to be fair and unbiased; it is insulting and indeed inappropriate to wave the WBs captain away yet talking to or hearing from the AB captain.. At the same time in the first half 2 penalties in a row went against the WBs scrum; did they get a talking to, No. But in the second half the WBs scrum had 2 penalties in a row against them, did they get a talking to, Yes. Polite was poor tonight; the yellow card was correct but he could have done more to be more invisible, and more willing to talk to both captains equally.
Shop
Roar Guru
"all concurring"?
Damo
Guest
A win is a win in my book.Something the wallabies have not done in a while.Bring on the boks.See if we see 7 loses in a row.
SandBox
Roar Guru
That's it buddy, ignore what Eddie Jones did with Japan, and play the victim. Although I agree with you on one thing, Cheika shouldn't have been coach of the year 2015
ethan
Guest
Yep, mongrel and physicality may have been a problem for us at times in years past, but it is not the biggest issue right now. Problem is, that is Cheika ball. He achieved it at the Tahs with big bodies like Palu, Potgeiter, Skelton, Kepu, TPN. Of those now he only has one starter, and no big guys in their place to do the same damage.
ethan
Guest
Cheika is used to winning in recent years. Think he is understandably feeling the heat. I admire the way he talks in most interviews I've seen him, but his selections and strategy in recent times is another story...
ethan
Guest
I agree WBs, for years now, have not dealt well with reactions to referees calls. Kearns eptimises it in the com box. He was unbearable tonight, as most nights...
ethan
Guest
Plenty of effort yes I can't fault that either. Cheika certainly knows how to coach effort. But it is smarts and skills we need to make improvements.. For instance, it was an obvious plan to try and rattle them and get under their skin playing on the margins of the law. What is the outcome? Adam Coleman shoulder charges a guy without the ball, gets a yellow, and was lucky not to get a red... That is DUMB. Effort? Yes. Physically up for the challenge? Yes. But just plain stupid. I'm sure Cheika doesn't coach shoulder charges, but when he puts all his emphasis on the physicality, the brains seem to go out the window.
ethan
Guest
Bit tough of an AAC going off for concussion. Agree about Moore though he was terrible. Poor line out throws, poor defence, obviously got on the wrong side of the ref with all his chat. TPN made far stronger carries when he came on. Time for Moore to move on. Most of Australia think Pooper is a joke as well, except the coaching staff it seems. The problem is that Hooper has such great attitude and commitment the coaches feel the need to put him out there. But it is hurting our backrow combination badly. I've said it so many times - time to train Hooper as a centre. He'd be great as a centre. He tackles well, has speed, would be a bigger centre compared to being a smaller forward at the moment, chases kicks, hit about the same amount of rucks as he currently does. But no, I expect Pooper to line up next week just the same...
ethan
Guest
I think we will really see where we are at when we take on South Africa and Argentina. I am not feeling confident.
fourmoreyears
Roar Rookie
Does any sport award trophies based on how 'not boring' their style of play was? Yes, gymnastics, synchronised swimming and also diving.
fourmoreyears
Roar Rookie
"Then you’re back on a level playing field because their defence is baseline average." What is the basis for this alstatz?
Dave
Guest
Got two eye patches on, blinky?
Mark
Guest
They looked better agains England...
Scott
Guest
How is this Pulver's fault? How is it a sore spot of mine?
David of Sydney
Guest
Got to agree with Wallace on this one. Any performance review always ends up with analysis of the administration. The CEO sits at the top and he is ultimately responsible for continuing poor performance