New Zealand scored five second-half tries in a 50-19 Eden Park win to retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
New Zealand (1.72) beat Australia 50-19 at Eden Park on Saturday to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th straight year. The result ended a three-match losing run for the All Blacks and extended their Eden Park unbeaten record to 54 matches.
A Close Contest Before The Break
Australia (3.40) started the match in confident fashion and led through a Tom Wright try in the eighth minute. Ben Donaldson’s clever tap-on sent the fullback over after a lovely backline move. New Zealand responded with tries from flanker Peter Lakai and lock Tupou Vaa’i.
Damian McKenzie’s eye for a gap played a role in both scores. Harry Wilson scored just before halftime to keep the Wallabies close at 17-14. The home side then took complete control after the interval, winning the second half 33-5.
Winning The Air
New Zealand fixed the aerial problems that plagued them during the series against South Africa. Cam Roigard’s box kicks were precise and gave his chasers time to compete. Jordie Barrett soared above Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to win the contest that led to Lakai’s try.
Suaalii had starred in the air against the Springboks but could not repeat that display. The All Blacks kicked 25 times to the Wallabies’ 23 and won most of the 50/50 balls.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss admitted his side lost that battle: “Their kicks were a lot more accurate than our kicks, that’s for sure,” he said.
McKenzie’s Revival At Flyhalf
Damian McKenzie kicked 15 points and ran the attack with real authority from fly-half. Injuries to Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga pushed him forward from fullback. He had started all seven previous Tests this year in the number 15 jersey.
Assistant coach Mike Blair praised the performance after the match: “His running game, his understanding of manipulation of space was brilliant,” he explained.
McKenzie also threw his body into tackles and breakdowns. Scott Barrett’s return added physicality, with the lock making 12 tackles and carrying 18 times.
The Moment That Decided It
Australia had their best chance early in the second half with an attacking lineout five metres out. Their forwards formed the maul too eagerly and conceded an obstruction penalty. New Zealand then flipped the field, and Roigard scored off a rolling maul soon afterwards.
Wilson identified that passage as the turning point: “We had an opportunity to get some points and we missed out there,” the captain said.
Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan added further tries. Josh Nasser scored a late consolation for the Wallabies, who lost for the first time under Kiss.
Injuries Before Sydney
New Zealand’s win came at a cost, with several players ruled out of next week’s second Test. Hooker Asafo Aumua and flanker Anton Segner both failed head injury assessments.
Ethan Blackadder will miss the match with a calf problem. Carter suffered a high ankle sprain while scoring his try, after falling awkwardly in a Rob Valetini tackle.
Coach Dave Rennie said the tackle “didn’t look good”. World Rugby will outlaw hip-drop tackles from 1 November, so Valetini likely escapes sanction.
Australia will also lose centre Len Ikitau to a head knock. The second Test takes place at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 17 October, the venue for next year’s World Cup clash between the teams.
