New Zealand survived a thrilling Australia comeback to cling on to a narrow victory in Sydney and continue their stronghold over the Bledisloe Cup.
With both sides looking to salvage difficult Rugby Championship campaigns, the All Blacks started fast and surged into a 21-0 lead as they ran rampant in the first 15 minutes. A further try from Ardie Savea before half-time suggested that Scott Robertson’s visitors would pull clear in the second half to incflict more punishment on a wounded Wallabies side still searching for direction.
But the hosts swelled in the second half, with their bench making a significant impact to swing momentum their way. Keeping the All Blacks to just a single Damian McKenzie penalty after the interval, late tries from Hunter Paisami and Tom Wright moved Australia to within a score as they threatened to produce a remarkable, unexpected fightback.
Yet despite New Zealand losing two backs to the sin bin, there was always just slightly too much for Joe Schmidt’s side to do after their sluggish start. With a second and final Bledisloe Cup meeting of the year to come in Wellington next week, the All Blacks have retained the trans-Tasman prize, as they have done each year since 2003.
The All Blacks' Dominating Start
The Wallabies will take heart from their second half fightback, especially after the record 67-27 loss to Argentina two weeks ago.
Australia's Resurgence
Australia have lost their eighth-straight Test to New Zealand and bungled another chance to snatch their first Bledisloe Cup series victory since 2002, going down 31-28 before a crowd of 68,061 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Despite the narrow loss, the scoreline flattered the Wallabies with the All Blacks botching at least five tries.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had implored his men to “stay connected” and “go after” the All Blacks. But both credos crumbled early as his side unravelled with dire mistakes. It took New Zealand just over a minute to score, Jordie Barrett weaving through wafer-thin defence and leaving Will Jordan to score untouched for 7-0.
By then Australia had fumbled a kick-off and dropped a bomb in a shemozzle opening that quickly sapped the confidence of Wallabies fans. After the try they turned a ball over in the maul and had a kick smothered. Soon, the All Blacks crossed again as Rieko Ioane finished a fast backline sweep that left Wallabies grasping air in backplay.
At 14-0 after nine minutes, New Zealand were heading for a hundred by full-time. Had Tom Wright not intercepted Ioane’s long pass and Ardie Savea thrown another forward it might’ve been 150. Normally a home side would’ve rued a home crowd silenced by so many points. But the majority of this crowd called New Zealand home.
The All Blacks' Second-Half Slump
While the Wallabies were well below par in the first 20 minutes, the same is true for Robertson’s All Blacks in the final quarter.
In fact, we could even say the All Blacks were a 45-minute team in this one as that was the time stamp on the last New Zealand points of the day in the form of a McKenzie penalty.
Still, the premise stands in that the All Blacks are struggling to put together a complete 80-minute shift. The opening stanza was a joy to watch and had shades of the All Blacks of old as they cut open the Wallabies at will in the first 25 minutes. The pace of the attack, accuracy with ball in hand and spatial awareness was simply brilliant but they let their trans-Tasman rivals grow into the game and it very nearly cost them.
Australia's Fightback
Unlike last week when they leaked 50-points in 30 minutes, Australia rode their luck and determined to go down swinging. James Slipper ran on in his record-breaking 140th Test and his team lifted around him. When Lukhan Salakaia-Loto broke the line and Paisami barged over to make it 31-21 with 15 minutes to go it was Game On.
With Lienert Brown shown a yellow for ironing out Andrew Kellaway, Australia were suddenly 15 on 14 and AB teammate TJ Penerara was lucky to escape a yellow of his own when he dump tackled Tate McDermott with the line in sight. In the end it was Clarke sent off for a deliberate slapdown intercept to snuff another Wallabies raid.
When Paisami crossed in the 73rd minute, Australia could smell the upset. But this time it was the Wallabies denied by the TMO, a Kellaway knock on detected prior. It happened again shortly afterward when Wilson’s flick to McDermott drifted forward. But in the 78th minute, the levee broke and Tom Wright touched down for 31-28.
What's Next for the Wallabies?
As Slipper left the field with an HIA, only to return for the final minutes, Australia emptied the tanks looking for a final fistful of points. In the end, the brave comeback fell short as they were left to rue early errors and poor lapses in defence. The Bledisloe is gone for yet another year. It was only three points but it might as well be a million.
The Wallabies, despite the loss, will take a lot of positives from their second-half performance. The team displayed resilience and character, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into the next Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington.
