The All Blacks have kicked off their Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship defence with a resounding offensive display, piling on 54 points against a hapless Wallabies defence.
The All Blacks racked up eight tries to four at the end of the night for a comprehensive 54-34 win in Sydney.
The scoreline is a record for these two teams, and the All Blacks’ total of 54 surpassed the previous Bledisloe Cup record set by them with 51 points in 2014.
All the wash-up from Wallabies vs All Blacks Bledisloe 1:
» QUIGLEY: Bledisloe a damning indictment
» LORD: Rugby is an 80-minute game
» What changes should Australia make for Bledisloe 2?
» Vote in our DIY Wallabies player ratings
» WATCH: Highlights from Bledisloe 1
» WATCH: Michael Cheika’s post game comments
» Re-live the match with our live blog
An explosive opening half turned the fire straight onto the Wallabies after bagging a pair of early penalty goals to take the lead.
New Zealand would go on to run in six tries to zip before half time at a point a minute.
The Wallaby defence were at the mercy of the best attacking backline on the planet and the pain continued after the break.
Another two tries inside eight minutes to kick off the second stanza had New Zealand rack up the half century just 48 minutes into the game with a real cricket score on the cards.
It turned out to be a game of two very different half hour periods in the end though.
While New Zealand bagged all six of their first half tries in a 30-minute stage leading into the break, Australia returned serve in the final half hour of the game.
The All Blacks were scoreless for the bulk of the half, not landing another point after the aforementioned 48th minute try to Ben Smith, while the Wallabies attack finally kicked into gear with 28 unanswered points of their own.
It was far too little too late for the home side who slumped to their sixth straight defeat and their 16th loss from their last 17 games against their rivals across the ditch.
Doubles to Rieko Ioane and Ryan Crotty were four of the seven tries to come from the New Zealand backline, with Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith the only members not to get on the board.
For the Wallabies, Curtis Rona bagged a try on debut. Kurtley Beale scored his first try on return, playing his first Test since the World Cup final in 2015.
It’s a painful start to the campaign for the Wallabies who will have to win in Dunedin to keep their Bledisloe Cup dreams alive.
For the All Blacks, they’re on the cusp of a 15th straight Bledisloe Cup.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Sorry it upsets you Uncle Eric. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable on the 'Stuff' blog. Nothing but swivel-eyed AB fanboys there.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I'd get writers cramp if I listed even half of them, but I'll pick out a few highlights. No point going into last century given it was a more violent game then but worth mentioning that JPR Williams, one of the toughest men ever to play the game, announced after he had his faced ripped open by repeated stamping playing a club match that he couldn't risk playing the ABs again because of the risk to his career as a surgeon. So a few this century. Ali Williams in 2003 stamped five times on the face and head of Lewsey with the ball 2 metres away. 30 stitches, missed the eye by millimeters, no punishment, and led Woodward to insist on having a lawyer on standby for Lions tour. 2005 O'Driscoll - not much needs to be said. 2009 Twichenham flying headbbutt by Mealamu on Moody. Same tour another head stamping. Hore king hit from behind against Wales. Fekitoa last tour. All just off the top of my head, 6 certain sending offs. I'm sure there's many more. The pattern, apart from the deliberate attempt to inflict serious injury, is that they're all sneak attacks where the victim isn't looking or is trapped.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Yet another of your glorious generalisations FB. Why don't you put a sock in it? Everytime you put fingers to keyboard you say the same thing, quite frankly it's boring, time to grow up son.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't recall him having any trouble at the Force. He goes to Sydney for three weeks and suddenly he can't tackle
Uncle Eric
Guest
It wasn't sarcasm FB it was a question and you answered it in a typically non evidenced manner, to whit 'the many, many, many famous instances of serious foul play the ABs have been guilty of committing but were unpunished'. Perhaps you could enlighten us all with just a few examples of the many, many? Otherwise stick to evidence and not conjecture and falsehoods.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
It's not the ONLY reason, zhenry, but it's certainly one of the most enjoyable.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'The ABs should refuse to use Barnes' I know it's difficult for Kiwis to grasp, but the ABs haven't (yet) got the power to decide who refs their games. The Kiwi constant bleating about refs would be easier to stomach if there was a single Kuwi ref that wasn't considered a joke by the rest of the world.
zhenry
Guest
Delusions again from Funbus.
zhenry
Guest
Delusions.
zhenry
Guest
I am sick of the foul play of the Wallabies, every time they go out on the field, the officials need to short shift and penalize penslize penalize.
Bakkies
Guest
Rona was a centre picked on the wing. attacking from the wing and defending in the centre. Madness for a player picked to play his first test against the ABs.
Bakkies
Guest
He's not as bad as Christian Warner and Nathan Spooner
Bakkies
Guest
Part of the reason he was also there due to the fact that Beale hadn't made it to his 'defensive position' on that wing.
Dave
Guest
Someone has to keep Oz running, maaaaate
zhenry
Guest
Love to kick NZers, fun for the bus, your on this site for one reason only.
zhenry
Guest
Completely agree, quite frankly he is an ar.. h... Every time he refs the ABs he penalises them unduly and misses vital penalties to the opposition. Could hear him on the microphones, ignored the try by Barret, second half, simultaneous he said even though one of his very experienced assistants kept saying it was a try. Picked up the forward pass to Ben Smith in second half as he raced away to try line but ignored obvious forward pass to Falou in second half (that's OK Barnes told TMO) and ignores off side in same movement. The ABs should refuse to use Barnes. Not a word from the advertising film star coach (on behalf of an Australian company), typical NZ putting it all under the carpet. Also captain Read did not captain his side in second half, he went missing.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Except that was a 4th choice collection of kids sent out to rest the main squad. Personally I thought that was insulting to Australia, but I certainly didn't feel as embarrassed as Aussie fans should today watching their first choice side humiliate themselves. As an aside, the England first team played Oz 5 months later and the WBs won by one point. Reckon you're going to get within one point in Dunedin?
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Not sure your witless comment was worth making twice, JJ.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I'll assume you're not being sarcastic. It might prove that, Uncle Eric, were it not for the many, many, many famous instances of serious foul play the ABs have been guilty of committing but were unpunished.
Jack
Guest
"Typical east coast Aussie". Spare us from silly stereotyping. The typical east Coast Aussie is a women who thinks Rugby is big boys wrestling with each other and likes the good looking lads who play AFL.