Just before kickoff of Bledisloe 3, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie called for accuracy and a ‘foot on the throat mentality’ from his team. What he got was another error-strewn collapse, another two intercept tries conceded and yet another humbling 38-21 Bledisloe Cup defeat.
Rennie’s were the final words in a long lead up of waffle and verbal warfare since the match was initally delayed, causing friction between the two unions.
The reality is that the All Blacks proved once again that talk is not just cheap, but irrelevant, come kick off, with their 18th clean sweep, fourth in 10 years and first since 2018, claiming six tries for a TRC bonus point.
“They’ve been ruthless clinical, imperious and shown their depth as well,” said former Wallaby Morgan Turinui on the Stan Sport coverage.
A bloodied Australian captain Michael Hooper was left to bemoan poor execution once again.
“Our turnovers led to mistakes,” said Hooper. “Disappointing we were doing so much good then ending up under our own sticks.
“We have to have more patience with the ball. Loose offloads … we need to be better as a team.”
Rennie said he was happy with the courage and character, but added “we’ve obviously got a fair way to go.”
“It was a frustrating day, created so many opportunities and against the All Blacks if you don’t nail them they have the ablity to go 90 metres and score. We have to be far more clinical.”
The last time the teams met in Perth, in 2019, Australia won commandingly as Scott Barrett was sent off. On Sunday his brother Jordie suffered the same fate, getting a red card for kicking Marika Koroibete flush in the face as he leapt high to claim a kick. It did nothing to derail the All Blacks, helped by a new rule that meant the visitors were only missing a player for 20 minutes.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
In Auckland, Australia had received a 10 minute spell against 14 All Blacks, yet conceded 10 points during it. On Sunday, Australia conceded a try during the 20 minutes that their opponents were short a man, slipping behind 18-0 only to score as soon as his allowed replacement, Damian McKenzie came on the field.
That try, from Folau Fainga’a, came soon after Rieko Ioane’s brilliant try saver on Tom Banks and gave the Wallabies a glimmer.
The match had begun encouragingly for the hosts. Samu Kerevi, restored to the team for the first time since 2019, scooped up a ball in a ruck and swept up field. He fed Koroibete who managed to put the ball down, only to have the action brought back for an infringement against Kerevi in the ruck.
The All Blacks kicked the first points through two Beauden Barrett penalites as the visitors’ choking pressure locked Australia in their half.
Jordie Barrett finished off a lethal attacking move in the 18th minute and it was almost 10 minutes later before the Wallabies were able to get into a dangerous position of their own.
A penalty gave Noah Lolesio an easy attempt for three points but he miskicked horribly.
The scowls on Dave Rennie’s face were coming thick and fast, and Australia’s lack of accuracy kept costing them, as hard as Michael Hooper tried to stem the tide.
New Zealand were down a man but had too much class and desire. David Havili crossed right on half time, to send Australia to the sheds having failed to fire a shot.
The Wallabies intensity improved early in the second half as the All Blacks appeared to come out cold.
But after Fainga’a’s try they came back again, Will Jordan ending an excellent atacking move, before another shocking intercept moment.
For the third Test in the series the All Blacks profited directly from an intercept. This time it was lock Matt Philip, out in the back line, whose loose pass was easily picked off by Havili who scooted free for his second.
Again Australia fight back, Nic White scrambling over for a try, but, as it has all series, it looked like the All Blacks merely needed a nudge to turn the heat back on.
Anton Leinert-Brown found joy down the Australian left wing, and then George Bridge crossed to end the Wallabies’ hopes for good, with Tom Banks adding a last minute consolation.
Observer
Roar Rookie
Lets put it this way, the comment was how many Wallabies would make any rugby league team. But to answer your question Michael Hooper would be sensational in rugby league if he downskilled. To turn it around how many leaguies would make the Wallaby tight five? And then, how many league greats made it in rugby? Sonny Bill Williams could never get in front of Ma'a Nonu and he was a league great. How many league players would get into the All Blacks or the Springboks?
Peter Kelly
Guest
What exactly has any Wallabies coach done in last 20 years, the coach is hopeless sackem mentality has worked really well so far, but lets keep blaming coaches who have the players for 15 - 20 weeks a year. All these coaches seem to have good records until they get the Wallabies job, seem to be a common theme here an it isn't that Aus has had 20 years of bad coaches.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Rhys - to quote a very old and pertinent line: Success has a thousand fathers and Failure is an orphan.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
David,I am not emotional and I judge people on competence and not whether I like them or not. Banks is a competent winger and an incompetent fullback.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
You're dreaming. Who in the team would make a current NRL side? I'm no fan of NRL but that's where all the best players are.
Steve Smith
Roar Rookie
Agree but should not be the case. If this was the case I am not going to celebrate DM becoming the head coach when DR leaves nor am I happy that DR is that easily influenced.
Observer
Roar Rookie
You are correct ... they would win the NRL championship. This nonsense about Rugby League having the best athletes is trolling. The worst thing for the Wallabies would be for them to be indoctrinated with the NRL and rugby league arrogance and culture. Gordon Tallis was put in his place many years when he criticised rugby union forwards. As the commentator said, he would have a relativity check when he went into a scrum and found his face looking at his own backside.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Yep, a lot of culpability in RA. Sadly no one takes ownership. If it was a business, heads would’ve rolled long long ago. I’m honestly almost waiting for the admin to go broke and crumble, as the other person doing this could fix a lot of our problems. A certain Twiggy Forrest
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Stop dreaming. You dont like Banks and take every opportunity to put him down.
frisky
Roar Rookie
The first offense was making , or trying to make, contact with the man in the air. The rest was an unfortunate accident.
frisky
Roar Rookie
Yes. Koroibete had no right to be in contact with a player in the air Jordie misjudged the take and was rotating backwards in teh air, a dangerous position for him His legs seemed to come up to balance him. Had Koroibete's not made contact with JB's boot, it would have Koroibete who would have been carded.
frisky
Roar Rookie
The kids will learn a lot by watching the AB's play. You learn a lot by watching the best in the world, while being entertained by scintillating skills. This site and the media are infected by results merchants, not rugby players. Appalling !!
frisky
Roar Rookie
I cannot find any reference to the crowd size. It looked large on screen, but it was hard to distinguish patrons from coloured empty seats. Any help anyone?
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
well maybe marinos and rennie should be careful what they say as they fired the allblacks up. I thought australia had a chance before the game I would say south africa will be waiting for wallaby stew. its proberly the wooden spoon battle between the pumas and wallabys.
potsie
Guest
He was very poor for Counties-Manukau. It was like he wasn't even there.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Rugby Geek
Roar Rookie
P2R2 SMALL ISSUE DAMON IS AN AUSTRALIAN REFEREE. The call by the ref was always going to be a RED it is in the law book. Commentators didn't really mess this up which is a big improvement over Fox. But still room for improvement.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
David, not sure what you watched out there yesterday but I kept count of the number of times Banks tackled anyone and apart from shoving one AB over the line who BTW threw it infield then he was rarely if ever in the picture. Don't know how much rugby you've played but I have played with/against and seen many decent FB's play for Australia and even Kurtly was better than Banks.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Rhys, Fish always rot from the head. Dipping into overseas? I agree if we cannot get what we need to maintain a powerful Wallaby team then we have no choice. Stan will not be happy if it ends up with just us two watching!
Bondi Hawk
Roar Rookie
Kids lets sit down and watch the Wallabies? Are the playing New Zealand - not they will get beaten again as they head outside to play basketball. Please do something different!