All Blacks crush Wallabies’ hopes with dominant Eden Park win

by · KickOff

The All Blacks have defended their incredible record at Eden Park with a 50-19 win over the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday, and in doing so, retained the famous trophy.

While they were still willing to continue their ball-in-hand approach, which has been the hallmark of their game under Dave Rennie, New Zealand also used several contestable kicks intelligently and won that battle with ease against the Wallabies.

It was their second-half performance that brought the victory, with New Zealand in total control as the Wallabies had no answer to their onslaught.

Australia dominated the opening exchanges and went close twice early on with two effective rolling mauls.

That dominance resulted in points when fullback Tom Wright glided over the try line after a brilliant line break in the seventh minute.

Ryan Lonergan converted for a 7-0 lead.

After an error from flyhalf Ben Donaldson, who kicked out on the full while searching for territory, the All Blacks opted for a contestable kick, which Jordie Barrett did well to claim.

From the resulting broken play, Damian McKenzie broke before New Zealand worked the ball wide for Peter Lakai to crash over the line for a converted score to tie things up at 7-7 in the 12th minute.

The home side hit the front soon after, and it came from another contestable kick as the Wallabies struggled to defend the All Blacks' broken-play attack.

That saw Tupou Vaa’i crash over in the 16th minute for a 14-7 lead.

New Zealand continued to turn the screws, keeping the Wallabies in their own half for long periods. While they had several good attacking opportunities, it took until the 34th minute for the next points for New Zealand, which came from a McKenzie penalty for a 17-7 lead.

Australia hit back soon after, and it was the All Blacks’ midfield defence that let them down again as Ben Donaldson cut through to find captain Harry Wilson, who scored a converted try in the 37th minute as the teams went into half-time with New Zealand leading 17-14.

New Zealand extended their lead to 24-14 ten minutes into the second half when Cam Roigard went through an open barn door in the Wallabies' defence close to a ruck to score a converted try.

A fourth try soon followed as the Wallabies had no answer for New Zealand’s relentless onslaught, with Codie Taylor crashing over to push the score out to 31-14.

New Zealand continued their second-half domination with further tries from Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan, while Josh Nasser got a consolation try for Australia.

Scorers

All Blacks 50 (17)

Tries: Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan
Conversions: Damian McKenzie (6)
Penalties: Damian McKenzie

Wallabies 19 (14)

Tries: Tom Wright, Harry Wilson, Josh Nasser
Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (2)

Live Updates

79' - TRY to the All Blacks! Will Jordan. Inevitable. Converted.

All Blacks 50-19 Wallabies

76' - TRY to the Wallabies! Josh Nesser scores for Australia. It came from an attacking maul. Unconverted.

All Blacks 43-19 Wallabies

76' - This will be Les Kisses's first loss as Wallabies coach. 

74' - TRY to the All Blacks! They aren't denied this time. Josh Moorby scores in the left hand corner. Unconverted.

All Blacks 43-14 Wallabies 

71' - Pasilio Tosi crashes over for NZ but there was a knock on in the build up which was picked up by the TMO.   

70' - Wallabies with their hands on the ball, finally. But Wilson knocks on.

67' - TRY to the All Blacks! They cut through again and Leroy Carter scores. Converted.

All Blacks 38-14 Wallabies

66' - Tackles made this half... Wallabies 75 and All Blacks 14. That just shows how NZ have dominated.

63' - Wallabies with a rare attacking opportunity but the ball just beats them into touch after a kick into space. 

59' - Lineout steal from NZ, but their attack is thwarted as they knock-on in the Wallabies red zone. 

58' - The Wallabies have only had 19% possession in the last 10 minutes. NZ turning the screws for sure.

55' - TRY to the All Blacks! Codie Taylor gets over. Relentless from NZ. Converted.

All Blacks 31-14 Wallabies

54' - All Blacks dominating now. They seven metres away from the Wallabies line.

52' - All Blacks straight back into the Wallabies red zone but Codie Taylor knocks on. 

49' - TRY to the All Blacks! Patience from NZ and then Cam Roigard gets over through a gaping hole close to the ruck. Converted.

All Blacks 24-14 Wallabies

49' - The All Blacks looked in for all money there as good hands get the ball wide, but Lonergan gets back to get in the way of the final pass. NZ still have an attacking lineout, however. 

46' - Another contestable kick for NZ (oh how times change) and they win another penalty at the breakdown. They've gone from their own line to right on the Wallabies line.

44' - Wallabies penalised. Blockers in front of the man who took the ball in the lineout as they try to setup a maul. Some relief for NZ. 

43' - Early attacking chance for the All Blacks but the Wallabies come away with it. Kick into the corner, Barrett forced to take it into touch. Attacking lineout for the Wallabies around 7m from the NZ line. 

40' - Second half underway. NZ under pressure but they win a penalty and can clear from their 22m line. 

Half-time

37' - TRY to the Wallabies! Harry Wilson scores after a midfield linebreak. Poor defence by NZ. Converted.

All Blacks 17-14 Wallabies

36' - Penalty for the Wallabies. They will go to the line. It's their first real attacking chance in quite a long time. 

33' - Penalty slotted by the All Blacks! McKenzie from straight in front and he doesn't miss.

New Zealand 17-7 Wallabies

32' - Another penalty to the All Blacks. This time they will kick at goal.

29' - Knock on in back play by NZ. The Wallabies breath a sigh of relief. 

28' - New Zealand on the attack and they have a penalty. McKenzie sets up an attacking lineout. 

25' - Lonergan misses from straight out in front...

24' - Time for the All Blacks to defend as the Wallabies are back on the attack. And they have a penalty. They will take a shot at goal. 

20' - Will Jordan scythes through the Wallabies defence, throws a long pass out wide, but it's not accurate enough.

18' - Lakai over the ball for New Zealand with the Wallabies on attack. He wins a penalty for NZ. 

16' - TRY to the All Blacks! Tupou Vaa’i scores. Converted.

All Blacks 14-7 Wallabies

15' - The All Blacks straight back on the attack after they win another contestable kick.

12' - TRY to the All Blacks! The Australian defence was all over the place after the All Blacks win a contestable kick. McKenzie in space, works the ball to Peter Lakai who scores. Converted.d

All Blacks 7-7 Wallabies

12' - Finally some possession for the All Blacks and they go to the air. Barrett wins the ball.

8'- TRY to the Wallabies! Tom Wright scores for Australia as their backs break the NZ line. Converted.

All Blacks 0-7 Wallabies

7' - NZ clear from the scrum, but the All Blacks were under huge pressure there. 

5' - Wallabies go close again with another strong maul but the All Blacks hold them out... just. And then in trying to move the ball, Australia knock on. 

4' - Excellent maul from the Wallabies, they go close but its dragged down and NZ give away another penalty. 

4' - The Wallabies opt for an attacking lineout.

3' - Wallabies full of running and they have a penalty advantage. Eventually forced into touch. NZ pinged for offside. 

1' - Early contestable kick from the All Blacks and they knock on. Attacking scrum for the Wallabies. 

1' - We are underway at Eden Park as Australia kick off.

  • Here's the haka!
  • Both teams are out on the field. Time for the anthems. 

Match Build-up

Catch up on some reading before kick-off.

Teams

All Blacks

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan De Groot. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Josh Moorby.

Wallabies

15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Massimo de Lutiis, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Harry Potter.

Related tags

All Blacks Bledisloe Cup Wallabies