A first half bloodbath has led the All Blacks to an ominous 43-5 win over the Wallabies and ensured they’ll retain the Bledisloe Cup for an 18th consecutive series.
The 38-point margin broke the record for New Zealand’s biggest ever win over Australia in a rugby Test, eclipsing the 37-point difference in 1996’s 43-6 drubbing in Wellington.
Richie Mo’unga scored two tries – and was unlucky not to add a third – while setting up another in a first-half masterclass that put the result beyond doubt before the break.
Despite winning an early lineout – something they’d struggled with in the other Bledisloe Tests – the match could have scarcely started any worse for the Wallabies, with Filipo Daugunu yellow-carded for collecting Caleb Clarke in mid-air off the ensuing kick just two minutes in.
Another penalty gave the All Blacks prime field position and Karl Tu’inukaufe barged over the line just before the six-minute mark to give the visitors the early lead. In a worrying early sign for the Wallabies, the New Zealand prop had several unmarked men to his left if he needed them.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The All Blacks looked likely to strike soon after thanks to a beautiful crossfield kick by Richie Mo’unga that set Anton Lienert-Brown off, but Jordie Barrett lost the ball off the next pass and he too was yellow-carded after the TMO pinged him for raising the forearm into Dane Haylett-Petty’s face.
But Australia’s lineout woes returned off the penalty kick, giving New Zealand possession back. More superb kicking from got them further up the field and then it was another marvellous kick that set Dane Coles up for a second try – but the TMO overturned it after replays clearly showed he didn’t ground the ball properly.
The All Blacks thought they’d crossed again moments later, but a superb sliding tackle from the side by Marika Koroibete forced Clarke into touch at the moment he was about to ground the ball. But despite earning some reprieves from the TMO, the Wallabies couldn’t do much at all with the remainder of their man advantage and found themselves on the back foot again when numbers were evened up.
Mo’unga took a great pass from behind the maul and, with worrying ease, danced around several Wallabies to score a superb try in the corner that, for once, the TMO didn’t need to look at.
Daugunu was then guilty of two turnovers after unnecessarily trying two miracle offloads and, on the second, the All Blacks cashed in once more. Beauden Barrett chipped a perfect kick for Mo’unga to run onto and he gathered, before breezing past the flat-footed Wallabies defenders for another try.
The punishment didn’t stop there, with another great kick forcing the Wallabies into a penalty close to their own line and Dane Coles grounded the ball off the back of a subsequent maul – putting the Kiwis up 26-0 just after the half-hour mark.
Mo’unga looked to have a hat trick in the bag just before half time, but lost his footing late and his pass was knocked on – just about the only good news for Dave Rennie in the first half.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
But the second half got off a superb start. Jordan Petaia showed another glimpse of his immense promise with a superb run down the right wing, before debutant Noah Lolesio crossed off the very next phase to put the Wallabies on the board. To Australia’s credit, they looked a lot better both with and without the ball in the early part of the second half, but they still couldn’t threaten the New Zealand line.
After something of an arm-wrestle for 20 minutes, the All Blacks got the scoreboard ticking again after taking the points following a penalty to Harry Wilson for not rolling away. The Wallabies looked odds-on to threaten a few minutes later, but they gave away a silly penalty close to the New Zealand line to defuse the threat.
Both Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight got off the bench to officially make their Wallabies debuts, but there was little else to get excited about for either side in the second half, until the All Blacks put the icing on late.
A textbook shortside play off the scrum saw Rieko Ioane cross for an all too easy fifth try in the 73rd minute, before Hunter Paisami turned the ball over with another errant offload in the middle just two minutes later, resulting in Jordie Barrett breezing through some very weak Wallaby defence to cross for a sixth.
Somewhat fittingly, Marika Koroibete had the ball knocked out his hands as he dove for a post-siren consolation try – capping off a truly disastrous evening for Australia.
The win means the All Blacks take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 2020 Bledisloe Cup series, meaning they’ll retain the trophy for an 18th consecutive year. The bonus-point win also gets New Zealand’s Tri Nations campaign off to the best possible start, while putting the Wallabies well and truly behind the eight-ball.
Australia 5 (Noah Lolesio tries; Noah Lolesio 0/1 conversions) def. by New Zealand 43 (Richie Mo’unga 2, Karl Tu’inukaufe, Dane Coles, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett tries; Richie Mo’unga 5/6 conversions; Richie Mo’unga 1/1 penalty goals)
frisky
Roar Rookie
Is there an Aussie think” ?? I have not noticed. I enjoy our diversity. England, Wales and Ireland have benefitted enormously from foreign coaches. This mantra makes no sense.
WallabyJ
Roar Rookie
So I think the first thing to remember here is that the Wallabies were playing the All Blacks. They are a highly successful team (the most successful ever?) with a winning culture and extraordinary depth. Secondly, the Wallabies are a very young team full of players with limited Super Rugby experience let alone test match rugby experience. It is also a team with a new coaching team. It is therefore unreasonable to expect big things of this team straight away, and as supporters I believe we need to give them time to gain experience and cohesion as a national team. This will unfortunately mean a few loses and some of them as we have already seen could get ugly. That being said, they are professional rugby players and coaches and the Wallabies team was not only outplayed by their opposition on the weekend but their performance was not at a satisfactory level. Their performance was lacking in attack, defence, decision making, discipline (pick a metric!) and it will be inexcusable if clearly visible developments aren't made in all these areas by the end of the Rugby Championship Series. Pick the best players in their regular positions and try and stick with the same team unless a player is obviously out of their depth or injured.
WEST
Roar Guru
Looked like the wallabies just didn’t turn up! They didn’t have the same defensive aggression. The loss of the O’Connor and To'omua exposed the wallabies backline and their lack of experience as well as their decision making abilities. I’m sure Rennie was hoping for an Aaron Cruden type of moment who helped the ABs during RWC 2011.. unfortunately it didn’t happen. The Wallabies would have been made well aware the ABs will want to put the cup away. So expect a more aggressive and direct approach. Unfortunately for the wallabies the ABs kicking game, combined with the AB forwards doing what they haven’t been doing in the previous two tests and allowing the Wallabies pack at times to dominate them.. especially in Wellington. As Hansen use to say.. just flush it down the toilet and move on. Don’t let it happen again.
CUW
Roar Rookie
if ur from NZ perhaps shud watch a bit of miter 10 and listen to the ref's explanations. there was a fine one in Northland match where Scot Gregory was involved. first time he got upended and tackler got a yellow next time he upended someone and he got a red. the ref explained very nicely
John
Funny...hehehe
No Arms
Roar Rookie
a tough call but what they are doing ain’t working so go co-captain with Alaalatoa in forwards & DHP in backs & if either are off another forward or back steps in & on field decision rep is swapped each match. Can’t hurt atm & might build some better leadership amongst
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Mate, no excuses from me. Sadly Rugby is a minor sport here. I would argue it is behind even soccer now in this country.
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I thought Barret's arm was still essentially tucked. He did not really stick it out much. Those incidents happen often in a high level game. Wilson's hit on Cane was as bad as any.
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I thought Barret's arm was still pretty much tucked. Hardly extended out into the defender. Those types of things happen all the time in a game. Wilson's hit on Cane was as bad as any other.
Yep very true....money certainly does not solve anything if used badly. To me a NRC is absolutely crucial and the clubs in Sydney need to be put back in their place to work for the good of Aus rugby not to its detriment. With all the upheaval this year its a very good opportunity to do something big and get it right. Whats worse is that Castle had them going in the right direction but the captains did not like a kiwi female in the chair...But she introduced central contracts, Youth retention and had the coaching system overhauled as well....Gone....Lets hope they get it right...their future depends on it...
yeah that Aus media tho.....I call it little America its so "headline orientated" Not sure if you remember the way Deans was driven out but if Rennie aint beating some top sides after about 18mths the Aus press get very nasty..... 10 Captains will be up in arms and the fans will be ropable.....It would be amusing if it wasnt affecting peoples lives.... The amazing thing was that Chieka lasted so long but that was because they had no money and an upcoming WC...
So we determine if its dangerous based on the outcome of the fall? He wrapped both arms around Clarks legs causing him to fall......have you seen the Gregory send off in the Mitre 10 game? Nothing as bad as the Daugunu one ......I knew straight away he was looking to make it a yellow only....Then for JB to get a yellow a few mins later...Just compare incidents and see if they both deserved the same punishment! Anyway it dont matter does it now...
No Arms
Roar Rookie
Call it what you want- they need to be better organized to take control and that takes those attributes and leadership.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Ok, never been there yet.
Micko
Roar Rookie
And Australia dominates things like the commonwealth games and are usually top ten in overall medals at the olympic games. And this is in spite Australian Football & rugby league's lack of an international status but huge cultural prominence. Plus we win at numerous other international sports, so I don't know why kiwis are desperate to point out Australian Football & rugby league as some apparent be-all and end-all of aussie sport. So why do you keep doing it?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Rugby union realistically is on a level with cricket: around a dozen nations that can actually compete and only half a dozen that can probably realistically win a world cup.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t a RED because Clarke didn't land on his head & it was only a half hearted attempt of a tackle.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yep, Gardner doing his home ground reffing bias again. Though, I thought Ben O'K did a reasonable job, could've reffed the scrums a bit better, didn’t reward WB's dominance a few times. Slipper & TT had it all over their opposites.
Passing through
Roar Rookie
Would reds coach BradThorn be an asset to Dave R ? Since he's been in similar situation ,raising a young inexperienced team in the main to Near S R winners. Granted over a few years, and the pressure will be on Dave R to unrealisticly deliver sooner.
Tom
Guest
I think a big part of the problem is the ARU spent most of the windfall from the 03 World Cup in buying leaguies and long lunches, rather than ploughing that money into junior development.