The All Blacks have beaten the Wallabies by 17 points in Japan to complete a three-nil clean sweep of the 2018 Bledisloe Cup.
After winning both of the home and away games during the Rugby Championship earlier this year, the teams took their third game to Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, with an eye to the 2019 World Cup, which will be held in the Asian nation.
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
It took little time for the All Blacks to hit the front and assert their dominance over the contest. After controlling much of the early going and picking up a penalty, New Zealand went for the kill with Liam Squire scoring down the right edge.
Beauden Barrett converted to make it a perfect start for the All Blacks, but Kurtley Beale got the Wallabies on the scoreboard soon after, icing a penalty goal from 45 metres out.
It didn’t take long for the New Zealanders to take their lead back out to seven points though, with Barrett kicking a penalty goal of his own.
The All Blacks looked like they were going to start skipping away with things when Kieran Read scored in the 35th minute during the crucial period before halftime, but with Sefa Naivalau scoring for Australia and both of those tries being converted, the Wallabies were able to cut the lead to just seven at the halfway point of the match.
The sides then traded penalty goals during the early going of the second half, before Barrett landed a killer blow for New Zealand, sending the lead to 14 with a converted try in the 58th minute.
The Wallabies weren’t helped when Tolu Latu was sent to the sin bin in the 67th minute for pushing Codie Taylor in the face, but by that stage, the match was all said and done with the Wallabies having little chance of recovery from their ordinary position.
With Australia down to 14 men, a Ben Smith try put the game beyond all reasonable doubt with ten minutes to go, even if Barrett missed his first shot at goal for the day.
Australia grabbed a consolation try in the 75th minute through Israel Folau, but any hope of a crazy comeback was dashed when the kick-off was dropped and Rieko Ioane scored straight afterwards to finish the game on a high note for New Zealand.
All Blacks 37
Wallabies 20
JAGfx
Roar Rookie
A little bit different other than heaping it on the the Wallabies...but what with all the recent talk with regards to all of the tattooed players having to cover up in the world cup in Japan, but only to have all them play that game with their tattoos fully exposed? Just a crappy media beat up story previously? And just as a side note, I'm pretty sure it doesn't have to be the Hooker that throws the ball into the lineout...just thinking aloud here :)
Machpants
Roar Guru
Ah there is nothing better than the gate of sweet salty tears
CJ
Guest
They get away with it, so I guess they'll keep doing it. There was simply no question that Smith ran into the cover defender. That was an absolutely Wow moment. Sorry, Chris you have had to cop personal abuse for saying it. Look, the Wallabies are hopeless and this paradigm will not affect these results, so this is not sour grapes. But if I were in the Ireland management I would be sorting this out behind the scenes.
CJ
Guest
Can't think of the last time Foley landed a money a ball for Folau - like JT did so often
Jacko
Guest
I am guessing you mean Hawera???
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Just a heads up riddler , headline in the SMH this morning “ Foley cooked”. You might want to go over there and sought them out.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Not after the whistle because you would look stupid.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
But why have one? A straight running player like Kerevi who can run straight, break the line and get passes away is probably better anyway. I’d love to see Kerevi at 12 and Piatau at 13
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Hey Fionn, I don’t really see Kerevi as a good option at 13. I’m not sure his distribution skills are up the level required there. I know he can pass ok but I’m not sure his decision making is as good as it needs to be. I loved the way he ran straight and hard after he came on and that pass to Folau was great. To me he’s the best option for 12 going
taylorman
Roar Guru
Funny way to go about avoiding clicks!
taylorman
Roar Guru
How are they losing fans when youre not one of them? Have they told you this? The secret is to do the same things yourselves, get into more try scoring movements so you too can have that horrid problem.
adam smith
Guest
I just can’t understand how Chieka keeps his job, plenty of other coaches have been sacked with far superior records. If Cheika had any sense of pride or humility, he should do the right thing & resign.
rebel
Roar Guru
Hopefully a few more WC and Bledisloes to come during this downward spiral. Thanks for the laughs Chris.
Jacko
Guest
Mungbean you shouldnt yell at latu like that....He did the wrong thing but Cheika and Hooper tell us they will learn from that
Jacko
Guest
Kearns????? Stick to Wine not Whining
Jacko
Guest
That was definately Genia's job to help tackle Read......Softest try I have seen for a while
Exile In Oz
Roar Rookie
At the time I through it was a bit powder puff but I just looked at a replay of it and think it was a solid yellow. Both blokes are not little people and the strike to the face did rock him back a bit so the force involved was moderate. A few years ago an AB (I think it was Dane Coles) was targeted in a game. The idea was to get a reaction out of him and it resulted in a yellow card. Its all part of the game and he learnt from of. PK is a twit and will only ever be part of the cheer squad. Not offering constructive commentary makes him part of the issue
Jacko
Guest
I had a good laugh at that too Tman.....bitterness has grabbed hold of him and he cant let go...Good win by the Auckland boys ...Congrats
QED
Roar Rookie
Dempsey showed in his first carry what accelerating into contact and bending the line looks like. But lets keep selecting Hannigan. All this praise for Simmons for his better performance would be fine if he was a young player just coming on the scene and not a someone with 90 caps.......
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
I was at the game with my wife, kids and friends, flew up from where we live in Miyazaki. Awesome atmosphere in the City of Yokohama and some good pubs,restaurants , kid’s rugby activities and entertainment outside the ground. They were tight on security which held up the lines, but when they realized that everyone might not make it in for the start, they gave up on it and just let us flow in. At least some common sense prevailed their. I thought the lighting wasn’t that great as well. Just some things they might want to look at. We had an awesome time and there was some great rugby. I would have liked to have seen the Wallabies spend at least 10 mins after the game meeting fans. Some did but some just walked down the race.. My son got his ball signed by Tupo and Ned so he and I were stoked. First time I heard my 10 year old daughter swear in front of me. I stood up and yelled F off when Latu got the yellow, then my wife did too, then my daughter stood up and did the same. I felt like a bad parent but it was kinda funny. Great times!