Key events
The Wallabies end a chastening Rugby Championship bottom of the ladder with only one victory from six outings, and conceding over 30 points per game on average. Familiar issues remain: individual skill errors, discipline at the breakdown, and in-game management, especially by the halves. But there are promising signs nonetheless.
The front and back rows are Test class. Tom Wright is getting used to breaking defensive lines from fullback. And there have been long spells in recent weeks that have demonstrated a backs-to-the-wall fortitude. But nobody in the northern hemisphere should fear their arrival in the coming weeks. Joe Schmidt still has a lot of work to do.
For the All Blacks tonight Sititi was outstanding, leading the pack, and behind him Barrett added calmness and perfect timing, that had been lacking with McKenzie at the wheel. But the real power in this side is out wide where Clarke, Jordan, and Lienert-Brown were too fast and too powerful for their opposite numbers.
This New Zealand group is still a long way from the finished article though, and they are unlikely to start favourites on European soil in November against England, Ireland, or France.
There’s now a ceremony on the field for Sam Cane on the night of his 100th cap. Beauden Barrett has the mic and is making a speech – a good one – referencing Cane’s broken neck, before handing over an absurd silver schoolboy’s cap, that Cane wears during a speech of his own.
A fittingly chaotic end to a weird old Rugby Championship for these two sides.
The All Blacks started poorly but still managed to bag three blistering counterattacking tries in the first half. Then they controlled the second without putting the Wallabies to the sword.
The Wallabies deserved to be ahead at the break, showing commitment in defence and bravery with ball in hand. But they faded badly after the break, failing to secure territory and finding themselves being put through the All Black meat grinder.
Full-time: New Zealand 33-13 Australia
An even first-half gave way to a one-sided second as the All Blacks secured consecutive victories over the Wallabies. Another Bledisloe Cup sweep for New Zealand.
78 mins: The 14 men in black soon earn a breakdown penalty as Australia make a mess of their latest attacking opportunity. This one is almost done.
Yellow Card! (Clarke, New Zealand, 77)
Wright breaks the line in midfield then chips to the right for Kellaway to slide onto. He’s tackled but in the afters Clarke, miles offside, picks up the loose ball and passes backwards. He is nonplussed as the yellow card is brandished.
76 mins: Brilliant lineout from the All Blacks on halfway sees McKenzie burst onto the long throw then offload inside to Jordan on the tear. Australia stand their ground though and a couple of phases later Paenga-Amosa wins the turnover on the ground.
75 mins: Australia win lineout ball on the 22 then get into one-out phase play. It’s narrow and lacking momentum, and it’s little surprise when Tosi is too good for Kailea at the breakdown.
73 mins: The lineout is secured and the maul forms. The front three holds firm as bodies fracture left and right. A metre from home… and Wilson fumbles! How did the All Blacks withstand that five minutes of defensive pressure?
72 mins: Australia kick to the corner on the left.
71 mins: Australia get another attacking opportunity but they look unprepared for it with McDermott feeding reluctant one-out runners. Eventually the ball is spun to the left where Paisami breaks the line. There’s room to the left and go-forward from the gold jerseys. Back infield and the Wallabies are burrowing like giant golden gophers trying to find the whitewash. Phases 10 to 20 are identical – and there’s a penalty advantage – but New Zealand stand firm. The ball comes out and through hands to the right but Lolesio is pounded and everything grinds to a halt. Phenomenal defence from New Zealand (albeit not always legal).
68 mins: Sam Cane is applauded off the field on his 100th Test. It may yet be his final one on New Zealand soil. Meanwhile Ratima slices a box kick out on the full.
67 mins: Australia finally get an attack as Wilson breaks the line. But there’s yet another breakdown penalty – the fifth in a row for the Wallabies – and New Zealand clear.
CONVERTED TRY! New Zealand 33-13 Australia (Clarke, 64)
Back come the All Blacks with Sititi again leading the way. Lienert-Brown hits the line hard, then McKenzie, as space opens up down the left. Australia do well to slow things up – for a while – but McKenzie again injects himself into the attack, sweeping around the line from right to left like an NFL receiver on the move. Brilliant incursion, busting open the Wallabies, and Clarke is invited to run over Kellaway, which he does, Lomu-style, taking a couple of bounces along the deck to eventually reach over and score. Brutal wing play after scintillating creativity from McKenzie.
Barrett slots over two more.
63 mins: McDermott tries to run out of defence but he’s ragdolled. After some slow phase play the replacement scrum-half box kicks clear. Australia have not fired a shot this half.
62 mins: The lineout lacks impetus but Taylor splinters off the wobbly maul to get towards the line. A couple of loose carries are adjudged to have gone backwards as the All Blacks go one-out under the posts. This is just blunt force trauma from New Zealand against the Australian line. Surely it is rewarded… yes! Vaa’i comes up with the crucial drive.
But… the try initiates the TMO, who very quickly informs the on-field officials the attack was a comedy of errors.
To add to the confusion, an Australian was yellow carded later in that phase – but that is now rescinded.
Amidst the chaos, TJ Perenara takes his leave.
61 mins: The maul pounds 10m from the lineout and draws a penalty advantage. Another breakdown infringement sees the referee take Wilson aside and warn him a yellow card is on its way if the lack of discipline continues. The All Blacks kick to the right corner. A sense of inevitability is brewing in the Cake Tin.
60 mins: The All Blacks are starting to assert themselves now, passing short, keeping things simple and straight, inviting Australia to make mistakes – which they reliably do. From the latest the ball is kicked ot the 22 on the right.
59 mins: We’ve had Sweet Caroline, we’ve had Why Does Love Do This To Me, so now it’s time for a Mexican Wave in Wellington.
58 mins: Australia have a rare attacking opportunity after defending for most of the half so far, but it’s over before it’s begun after a cute short lineout trick play is penalised for not being delivered straight.
CONVERTED TRY! New Zealand 26-13 Australia (Williams 56)
Sititi does well in the air to secure the lineout. The maul forms, Taylor splinters, and gets 2m from home. Bodies everywhere as the one-out phases crawl across the uprights. Phase six and Perenara has a dart. The cleanout is quick and Tamaiti Williams has enough room to get low and drive into McReight with enough force to score the try!
Barrett cannot miss and the All Blacks are now 13 points to the good.
54 mins: For the umpteenth time tonight Jordan threatens to bust the game open, tearing into the line at pace, but he’s scragged 15m from home. The All Blacks recycle down the left and Ioane does well to remain in touch to set up some one-out driving for the corner. But play is quickly halted for the penalty allowing Barrett to dab into touch for the 5m lineout.
53 mins: “That was the best defensive passage of play from the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt” argues Morgan Turinui on the telly.
52 mins: Australia’s scrum does enough to win the feed on halfway but Wilson is soon dispossessed in contact. New Zealand then get into some blue collar phase play to settle things down after all the manic madness. The slow-slow-quick creates room on the right for a flyer – but it’s Taylor on the touchline, so he trundles ot the 22 and accepts contact. Phase 10 and the ball is now on the left edge. Patient from New Zealand, happy to eat up the turf in inches… then Ioane drops a simple offload from Cane, and all that hard work comes to nought.
Both coaches must be tearing their hair out at all the individual errors.
49 mins: Now the Wallabies make a mess of the set piece and the excellent Sititi can drive down the blindside. The kick forward creates chaos on the ground but New Zealand get the benefit of any doubt. Perenara then tries to tap and go… and knocks on. Deary me. This is a wild half so far. Neither side is in sync, and there are errors aplenty.
48 mins: New Zealand bungle another lineout, then there’s a knock-on, a nothing kick from Paisami, and it all ends with Lolesio belting a penalty to halfway.
47 mins: The All Blacks come again through Perenara but Kellaway does magnificently with the strip in the tackle. It is chaotic out there this half.
46 mins: So close for the All Blacks! From the lineout Australia go side to side from right to left leaving Pietsch isolated. He tries to kick ahead but can only find Jordan’s bread basket in the defensive line. He returns with intent, chipping ahead for either himself of Ioane, but the ball just wobbles into touch in goal. The Wallabies breathe a sigh of relief.
45 mins: New Zealand go back on the attack from the lineout on the left. Play stalls again so Barrett launches a skyscraping garryowen. The chase isn’t fast enough to disrupt the mark, then Clarke is penalised on the ground and Australia clear to halfway.
44 mins: Australia’s scrum holds firm and the Wallabies run out of their 22 from right to left. Wright then dabs forward a nothing chip and chase and the dangerous Jordan returns it with interest. New Zealand are soon 30m from home and Barrett dabs over the top for Jordan to fly onto. Gordon is well positioned and defuses the danger, kicking clear. Finally, Alaalatoa replaces Tupou.
42 mins: Tupou is in the wars again, this time having work done on a shoulder stinger. He battles on, packing down into the first scrum of the half.
42 mins: Williams takes a superb restart mark but Australia get no go-forward and Lolesio is forced to kick long. The All Blacks are soon into enemy territory with the excellent Sititi to the fore. Play stalls around the 22… then Lomax drops a sitter. That’s a poor individual mistake.
The teams are coming out for the second period, the list of players including Taniela Tupou, who remains active despite looking like he was going to be ruled out after twisting his knee in the opening minute.
Half-time: New Zealand 19-13 Australia
In keeping with this weird and wonderful Rugby Championship, that was a half full of points, some blistering tries, and arguably the better side behind at the break.
CONVERTED TRY! New Zealand 19-13 Australia (Clarke, 40)
The lineout is secured but the maul takes an age to form. The Wallabies do well initially, but then there’s a second maul – and a penalty advantage. New Zealand exit to the right through hands. It’s expansive and risky and requires Reece to step back in from the right to straighten up. Barrett then makes the move staccato infield, dovetailing with Lienert-Brown to send Clarke bursting through the broken line and under the posts!
Barrett adds the extras well after the half-time siren.
40 mins: Barrett kicks to the left corner instead of taking the easy three points on offer…
39 mins: Australia again try to run out of their 22 from the restart, not once, but twice! Bell eventually accepts contact to set up some slow phase play before Gordon box kicks. Jordan accepts the mark then Barrett and Clarke up the tempo. Penalty advantage on the drive as Reece steps in from the right wing. Sititi bunts into the line, then Lienert-Brown follows suit as the attack reaches 10m. Barrett is orchestrating this superbly, but momentum stalls, a pass goes astray, and the advantage is accepted.
PENALTY! New Zealand 12-13 Australia (Lolesio, 37)
Lolesio dabs Australia back in front from under the dot on the crossbar. They deserve it.
36 mins: The lineout is secured, just, allowing Valetini to crash into the line at serious force. there’s a penalty advantage on the play as the attack reaches 10m from home. Lolesio loops a pass wide for Kellaway to expose his ribs and claim but the winger does his job. From right to left the drive gains impetus. Into the left corner and we’re in one-out drive territory again. Can McReight repeat his earlier try? Nearly! Held up over the line and play is recalled to the earlier advantage.
34 mins: Australia win a scrum penalty on halfway for the All Blacks disengaging. Tupou (yep, still on) receives the back pats as Lolesio kicks to the 22.
33 mins: No harm done for the Wallabies though as Clarke knocks on in contact. This is an oddly out of sorts All Blacks with ball in hand.
32 mins: Australia decide to attack behind slow ball 30m from their own line. It works! Wright steps off his right infield and breaks through the line! Then he throws a needless Hail Mary of a pass to his outside that is nowhere near his winger and dribbles into touch.
30 mins: Australia’s defensive line is flying out, allowing New Zealand to pick their way through gaps as Barrett times his passes superbly. The Wallabies do enough to scramble and the All Blacks are still not connecting in sync, so the attack doesn’t go anywhere, despite lots of noise and energy. Ikitau is then caught high claiming a chip ahead, but the penalty goes New Zealand’s way for an earlier Tupou infringement.
But Barrett doesn’t find touch! Excellent work from Pietsch in Australia’s left corner defensively.
28 mins: Frost slaps away the lineout! Play returns to an arm-wrestle on halfway.