A Beauden Barrett masterclass has seen the All Blacks bring home the Bledisloe Cup for the sixteenth time in a row, clinching the series at 2-0 with a victory at Eden Park on Saturday night.
Barrett scored not one, not two, not three, but a remarkable four tries – and could nearly have had five were it not for a knock-on – to be far and away the dominant player on the field.
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It was the Wallabies’ eighteenth consecutive loss in a row at Eden Park, while the run of losses for the Aussies in New Zealand continues, with their last coming in Dunedin during 2001.
The Wallabies were right in the contest during the first half, but just like during Game 1 of the series, it was the All Blacks striking just before and after halftime to take the game away from the Aussies.
Barrett was the only try-scorer for the All Blacks during the first half, running through off a suspect short ball from Ben Smith in the 12th minute and scoring again after the hosts had burnt the outside defences of the Wallabies just a few minutes from halftime.
The Wallabies did strike in between with Will Genia grabbing a try, but that was just about where the fun ended for the visitors, despite the fact they managed to clean up their major problem areas from last week, controlling their lineouts and being much better in scrums.
Aaron Moody was the man to get the scoring underway in the second half for New Zealand as he rolled over off a promising attack, before Liam Squire kept things going from long distance.
Reece Hodge scored a try for the Aussies to keep some hope, but a missed conversion paved the way of the match, with Barrett scoring again in the 61st minute and then again in the 68th.
In between, he had a try disallowed, while Waisake Naholo also had one disallowed. Considering the All Blacks put together a sloppy start to the game, they could have easily ran up a cricket score in Auckland, but ended with only 40 on the board.
There is plenty of soul-searching to do for the Wallabies now who will attempt to hang onto second place in the Rugby Championship against South Africa and Argentina in the coming weeks.
New Zealand 40
Australia 12
taylorman
Roar Guru
Ive just seen it too, actually quite liked the way he dismissed what were some really dumb questions. His passion came through thats for sure, but alas so did his frustration. Good viewing though.
John R
Roar Guru
???
Fionn
Guest
I'd like to try and build something akin to the following... 1. Sio 2. Polota-Nau 3. Tupou 4. Simmons 5. Coleman 6. Dempsey 7. Pocock 8. Naisarani / Timu 9. Genia 10. Toomua 11. Banks 12. Hodge 13. Kuridrani 14. Beale 15. Folau 16. Reserve hooker 17. Slippper 18. Ala'alatoa 19. Arnold 20. Hooper 21. Powell / Gordon 22. Kerevi 23. Foley / outside back
taylorman
Roar Guru
Still think he should have had game time by now. Must play vs Argie away to familiriase himself with overseas test conditions, a la WCup next year. Either that, or BB and DMac is all Hansens needs right now.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
I may get the tickets in the end, normally I do. but I am also trying to get tickets to see Uruguay in Cardiff or against Fiji. England v Japan I know it will be oversubscribed. T2 has been more exciting in recent years than T1.
Gishan De Soyza
Roar Pro
I think with a realistic view the Wallabies should be looking to build a team which looks like this for the world cup, given that some selections are guaranteed best to accept and work around it. 1. S. Sio 2. J. Ulese (Needs plenty of game time and good form leading up to the WC) 3. T. Topou (Needs to mature faster than expected into a starting role to fill lack of impact) 4. R. Simmons (For line out calling) 5. A Coleman (His workload needs to be manged - Looks tired) 6. C. Timu / L. Tui / J. Dempsy 7. M. Hooper 8. D. Pocock (Don't mind switching him to 6 at times depending on the game) 9. W. Genia 10. B. Foley 11. M. Korobite 12. K. Beale 13. T. Kurudrani 14. I. Folau (Although I suspect he will be kept at 15) 15. D.H.P (Back to the wing if Folau plays 15) 16. T.P.N (For experience) 17. T. Robertson / J. Slipper (Not many other options here) 18. S. Kepu / A. Alatoa 19. R. Arnold / I. Rodda / M. Phillips 20. C. Timu / L. Tui / J. Dempsy / N. Hanigan(One of them to start preferably not Ned) 21. N. Phipps / J. Gordan / J. Powell (Whoever has best form at the time) 22. S. Kervi / M. Toomua / R. Hodge (Hodge will only be starting post WC) 23. T. Banks / J. Maddocks (Depends on who develops more by mid next year) The Wallabies need to look at this as the backbone for the WC squad and keep improving on individual skills and game plan and execution with this lot. Big changes needed post WC though.
Roger
Guest
And if you believe that I have a fantastic harbour bridge/Opera House deal you won't be able to refuse...
double agent
Guest
Mounga would've watched that game and thought only injury can get me the 10 jersey any time soon.
Phillip
Guest
Wow, so Link doesn't count Cliff?
double agent
Guest
Aussieinexile. Get the tickets. There's no team even close to the ABs in the UK. You might see some wins.
double agent
Guest
Taylorman it wasn't just a freakishly good try that beat the ABs that day. The Wallabies were the better side throughout. Anyway. It's a long time ago. 1991. What was interesting is I remember going to my local pub the next afternoon. In those days blokes still used to go the pub on their way home from work. A mix of tradies and white collar dudes. Everybody was talking about the Rugby and the Wallabies stunning victory over NZ!! Rugby League was forgotten. AFL was non existent in Sydney then. It was all about the Rugby World Cup. The atmosphere was electric. It was a great day. I didn't realise it then but I think that level of interest in Rugby in Australia will never be seen again.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Funny how other teams are bagged for being unfit when they come up against the ABs. It's a fair question if NZ media and ex-ABs can question other teams fitness then see no reason why ABs shouldn't have to show their superior aerobic conditioning is gained legally. After the last two games I doubt it.
double agent
Guest
Does being too slow to catch someone count as a missed tackle?
double agent
Guest
It's hard to argue with West here. The Wallabies are outclassed by the ABs but hey,who isn't? Think they can go alright for the rest of the RC. The Wallabies need to re think the scheduling. Taking on the ABs first up every year is not doing them any favours.
double agent
Guest
I feel sorry for Pocock and a few others who play their hearts out and suffer through 80 minutes of what is often a brutal sport and imagine how they must feel when some other guys are reluctant to put their body on the line. You see that in every team from U8s through to Shute Shield some players are tough and some aren't it's human nature. But by the time you get to the Wallabies you expect them all to have big hearts.
double agent
Guest
I know Kirky likes to take personal credit for the success of the All Blacks and of NZ rugby in general but there's really no need to congratulate him.
double agent
Guest
GOLD!!!! Great stuff ClassAct!!!
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, Haylett-Petty's best game in ages. Really quality carrying from him, and some nice passing too!
Fionn
Guest
Fair point, Rugby Tragic, the All Blacks seemed to have superior fitness, and to use it to just annihilate us in the second half both games. Hard for the Wallabies to win when they're both less skilled and less fit, but I think we can do better than we showed! Congrats on the win!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Do you recall the turnip, shaped like a thingy? Or Balrdrick's relative with his turnip shaped thingy?!!!