Summary
If you’re just waking up in the Northern Hemisphere, be afraid - Wales, England and Ireland fans. The rumours of the All Blacks’ demise were greatly overstated - and while it wasn’t the best showing from a slightly sub-par Wallabies, it was a huge statement of pre-World Cup intent, that the World number one team is in no mood to meekly lay down their crown, just yet.
Hugely improved in the scrum, dangerous as always on the counter attack, and hunting in packs at the breakdown - this was as ruthless an 80-minute performance as you’ll see.
Still, a few missed lineout, a few missed conversions - Steve Hansen and his staff will maintain that it wasn’t a perfect performance. Had Beauden Barrett slotted his 78th minute attempt (or Richie Mo’unga banged home a pre-half-time penalty for that matter) it could have been a record margin of defeat between New Zealand and Australia. A small mercy, perhaps. Despite some poor handling, that would be a harsh indictment on a Wallabies side that for 10-15 minutes in the first half looked good value to level the All Blacks’ early lead.
Two key penalty misses from Lealiifano would have hurt Australian morale, before a rapid-fire two-try salvo from the All Blacks effectively ended the contest early on. You can’t miss your chances at this level.
Still, it was the determination with which New Zealand defended their own line which was especially noticeable. Plenty has been written over the past week (and in recent months) and this squad of 23 was too proud to take any of that, lying down. Even late in the 70th-80th minute there was no space for charity.
Big, strong - and a little bit angry. The imperious All Blacks are back, Ladies and Gentlemen. And the Bledisloe Cup stranglehold continues.
Tom Callaghan has written in:
Wobblies were world champions elect last week!
Wobblies wobbling ’again, eh?
Wasn’t it a French bloke who said - I can’t do the accent - plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose?
I think you’re right, Tom. Them Wobblies will wobble.
Updated
NZ retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th time!
Not too many have left the stadium, as Kieran Read strides forward to receive a 17th consecutive Bledisloe Cup on behalf of the All Blacks.
A handshake from NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Is she the only politician in world sport not to get booed? Or is that just an Australian tradition.
Kieran Read holds it aloft - Old Jug Ears - and the crowd roar their approval.
My, oh my.
So - what happens when you poke a bear?
A 57-point turnaround is what.
Your final thoughts on that showing? All Blacks fans - who was your best on ground - and where did the team most improve from the Testus Horribilis last weekend in Perth?
Full-time: New Zealand 36-0 Australia
They chance their arm one last time after the whistle, but ALB takes pity and boots into touch. They’ve seen enough, the Wallabies, and who can blame them. It brings a huge cheer from the home fans - they’re very happy with what they’ve seen, on a cold, wet night in Auckland.
It’s a ruthless, emphatic and in retrospect, entirely predicted response from the All Blacks. They retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th straight year!
Updated
Try! New Zealand 36-0 Australia (Bridge)
77 min: Eep. They’re in again, and that was terrific stuff from New Zealand. ALB (as they call him) with the impetus from outside centre (now that SBW is off the pitch) - and it’s the other winger on debut - George Bridge who muscles over for a well-deserved try.
Beauden Barrett with the conversion attempt, but he hits it just to the right.
Don has written in suggesting a possible subplot to this Wallabies performance:
Wallabies have done the right thing ensuring England do not get No 1 ranking - a true Southern Hemisphere team.
Hahaha. It’s a silver lining for Wallabies fans, perhaps.
74 min: Just under 50,000 in in Eden Park - and the vast majority of them are going to go away very, very happy tonight. They’ve been dominant in almost every category, the All Blacks.
Lienert-Brown with another line break, but the Wallabies knock the attempted offload to ground. Danger averted - for now.
72 min: Ooph! That’s a massive hit. Hodge has been sandbagged - Kieran Read has nailed him!
The skipper said post-match they weren’t good enough in Perth and would need to improve. His game was pretty good in Australia, but if possible he’s lifted again. Leading by example - terrific stuff.
70 min: Eep. They’re away again, New Zealand! But referee Peyper peeps Lienert-Brown back. It was a flying intercept from the outside centre, but there was a marginal knock-on from the ABs in the build-up from the restart. Australian fans collective say “phew”.
Try! New Zealand 31-0 Australia (Reece)
67 min: Wowee, wow! It’s a first ever try in All Black colours, and it’s Harlem Globetrotters stuff from the winger! It’s a first-time volley forward to a bouncing ball - he motors around his opposite number and wins the footrace, to ground his own kick in-goal. Perfect weight, perfect skill and blistering pace!
Wingers all around the world will have watched that and shuddered, pre World Cup. You’re. On. Notice.
And a change of goalkicker with Mo’unga off. It’s Jordie Barrett who steps up, and he’s slotted that from the sideline. Tidy.
65 min: They win the line out, Australia but they can’t get a drive going. They switch right, but there’s a turnover! Hodge isolated, and it’s a wall of Black that gets there first. Too quick, too strong. They celebrate, the ABs - do you think they’re up for it tonight?
63 min: Terrific set piece from the Wallabies, as Koroibete joins the bacline from the opposite wing. Terrific hands, and a well-worked play. Very unlucky not to burst the line, but credit the All Blacks defence. That was beautiful to watch.
They win another penalty though, and kick for the line. Can they make something from this? Line out about 15m out from the All Blacks line.
62 min: They build the phases, the ABs, but it’s turned over. Genia looks to kick away - but it’s charged down by Jordie Barrett! Fortuitously, that goes to a player in gold - what a sucker punch that could have been!
They clear their lines, Australia.
Grant Marjoribanks writes in on the performance of Nic White:
For Nic White, the hero in Bledisloe 1 in 2015, thumped the following week.
A hero in Bledisloe 1 in 2019, subbed the following week. A sense of de ja vu?
It’s a good point. They look to have done their homework on the Australian No9 this week, the All Blacks. One or two busts aside he had nowhere near the influence he did in Perth (admittedly, with plenty more ball in hand).
59 min: So a shuffle for NZ - Jordie Barrett comes on to slot in at fullback, and brother Beauden shifts to No 10. Lets hope that’s not serious for Richie Mo’unga - he’s been immense tonight.
Skipper Kieran Read with a big tackle and turnover. Some criticism coming his way in recent months, but that was terrific work - especially 60 minutes in. What strength!
Updated
58 min: They’re hunting in packs again out wide, the All Blacks. Sonny Bill has “a look” in his eyes, Lienert-Brown is in the mood too.
Terrific hands from Reece - almost razzle-dazzle stuff from the ABs - but Jaco Peyper has the whistle in mouth. Forward pass! Lienert-Brown knows it too.
Concern now for Mo’unga, who has remained down with a shoulder injury. Uhoh. New Zealand don’t need this with a World Cup just around the corner.
56 min: It’s 9-4 in the handling errors column, and that’s hurting the Wallabies a lot. Is it the greasy conditions? Is it additional pressure from the All Blacks? Or is that just the Eden Park factor?
Either way they’re dropping the pill and putting themselves under huge pressure tonight. Such as now, where the ABs have yet another scrum feed.
54 min: There’s a stat I’d missed in the pre-game build up: it’s Steve Hansen’s 100th match in charge of the All Blacks. Feels like his 300th, such has been the influence of the man (who was of course a long-time part of Sir Graham Henry’s staff beforehand).
He’s never a man who’d make it about himself, but you’d imagine he’ll happily play out his last match in charge at Eden Park in exactly this kind of fashion.
52 min: Now he’s cleared with a box kick. Smart passage of play from Smith, who is replaced by TJ Perenara and Ofa Tu’ungafasi comes on for Joe Moody. Huge effort tonight from the front rower, who saw his Crusaders partner-in-crime Owen Franks dropped pre-game, and was possibly on notice himself. Questions answered, you’d imagine.
51 min: Nic White jogs off, Will Genia comes on. Experience head, and it hasn’t been the same influence from the young halfback who was possibly best on ground last week in Perth.
Genia goes blindside and almost regathers a clever chip-and-chase, but it’s Aaron Smith who reads the play brilliantly and snuffs out the danger.
48 min: Big test of character, and confidence for the Wallabies. They can’t afford to collapse from here.
Both sides shuffle their packs, a few changes, I’ll try to bring you those. I think Alaalatoa has definitely left the field after the head knock, and it might be Toomua on for Lealiifano.
And it is the subs Toomua and Tupou - Tongan Thor - who nearly combine for a terrific counter punch! Mr Ellyse Perry was through the middle before Tupou hung onto a tricky bootlace pass - but he’d outpaced his runners. Turnover - but a fine burst from Australia.
Try! New Zealand 24-0 Australia (Williams)
45 min: We set for a scrum - NZ feed about 15m out. Big opportunity for a backline set piece. Savea picks up from scrum and they go right. He pops a pass back inside to find a runner, before SBW hits a sharp line! What a flying intervention and he’s burst over the try-line despite heavy traffic. We go to a TMO to see if he’s grounded, which he has.
Extras added from Mo’unga. No way back from here for Australia, surely.
Updated
44 min: They build the phases, NZ, as Sonny Bill joins the forwards. But a stop in play with Alaalatoa copping a heavy front-on head knock in the tackle on Sonny Bill.
The All Blacks take the chance to get Dane Coles back on the pitch. Was that even ten?! I guess playing two minutes after the first-half hooter counts. They’ve got away with 14 this week, New Zealand.
Updated
42 min: Huge push from the ABs! Scott Sio shakes his head ruefully, they’ve won another big push, New Zealand and earned the penalty. Ardie Savea has detached from the scrum-bind before the feed - skipped over to the other side, and they’ve pivoted the Wallabies front row again! Clever stuff - Australia will need to adjust.
Second half!
40 min: We’re back and it’s an inauspicious start from the Wallabies, as Adam Coleman appears to knock on from the restart! Jaco Peyper takes pity, and replays suggest the kick hadn’t perhaps gone the requisite 10m. Scrum bang on half way, Australia have the feed. Set piece time?
So - a deep breath (or ten) for Wallabies fans. What just happened?! And conversely, All Blacks fans - could there have been more points there for the taking?
Your thoughts on that first stanza?
Scott Probst has written in:
well, it looks like Australia have begun digging their own grave... again...
Harsh perhaps? It’s true that there’s absolutely no margin for error at this level. Especially at Eden Park.
Half-time: New Zealand 17-0 Australia
It’s a rare let off! Mo’unga pushes his strike just to the right of the posts - it must be difficult conditions for the kickers with both No 10s missing very gettable shots.
And that’s all we have! A pulsating first 40 minutes from Eden Park. It’s a welcome return for fans of “frustrated Michael Cheika” watch - he’s pacing his technical box like a panther with glass in its paws. They haven’t been poor, Australia - but with 40 gone, they’re on the ropes!
Updated
40 min: We set for a scrum, ABs feed about 10m out. They get a push moving - despite 7-v-8 in the scrum, Smith looks to flick right and Reece does brilliantly to almost find the line - but three Wallabies scramble well to stop the debutant winger.
We come back for a penalty - they think about the quick tap but the cooler heads prevail. Read points to the sticks.
38 min: What can Australia make of the advantage? It would be a huge boost if they can get on the scoreboard. It’s not a 17-0 half, but until otherwise, that’s how it will currently read.
The All Blacks keep ball in hand and they look to slow it down.
Oh my! It’s another dropped ball from Beale! Deary me - he’s spilled another one - his second of the game. If that was at the MCG they’d be yelling “footsteps”! There was nobody near the fullback. Huge mistake - and the All Blacks are on the attack, despite the man disadvantage!
36 min: They drive for the line, New Zealand, but we go upstairs for a TMO.
Dane Coles has grabbed Nic White off the ball as part of a clear out - it’s an arm round the neck, referee Jaco Peyper, is calling it a judo throw, and he’s apparently just warned the veteran front rower. Yellow card! He’s not happy about it, Coles. Nor are the home crowd. But silver lining - they’re only temporarily down to 14, as opposed to last week.
Updated
34 min: How cruel can sport be? Having weathered an early storm they were slowly building into this contest, the Wallabies. Lealiifano’s twin misses was a blow, but that was a rapid one-two punch combo from the All Blacks - and it’s completely knocked the stuffing out of those in gold!
They’re too good not to hurt you, New Zealand. And there’s a bit of frustration out there, as the All Blacks kick for the line once again and look to add further injury to insult.
Try! New Zealand 17-0 Australia (Smith)
31 min: They’ve not done too much wrong over the past ten minutes or so, the Wallabies but all of a sudden, it’s almost goodnight nurse o’clock.
Barrett starts the counterattack from fullback with ball in hand. He charges to the line, puts George Bridge into a hole out wide, and the young winger finds backup on the inside from Aaron Smith. A lightning raid from the All Blacks - some champagne stuff, from the world’s most fearsome rugby team!
Mo’unga adds the extras. Half-time can’t come soon enough for Australia.
Updated
Try! New Zealand 10-0 Australia (Mo'unga)
28 min: We’ve heard about the fabled All Blacks counterattack, and that’s terrific hands from the flyhalf.
The Wallabies looked to spread wide, seeing half a gap. It was a flicked pass from Beale, and Hodge nominally over-ran it and the ball went to ground. It was Mo’unga, quick as a whippet, onto it, and he runs away to the line!
Well-struck conversion. It’s a perfect 10, from the No 10, as he registers all the opening points of this game.
26 min: Laulala penalised for collapsing, and the Wallabies clear their lines. Both teams seemed to be under pressure there - perhaps it was the Wallabies front row that went down first? Referees give benefit of the doubt to the team just in front of their own line.
24 min: Knock on as Savea and Laulala get confused. The backrower leaves the pass from Smith and it’s a genuine falcon! The unsuspecting prop never saw that coming and it goes to ground, off the noggin. Bizarre mistake from the ABs.
Big pressure scrum now, after Australia were monstered in the opening set piece of the match.
Penalty miss! My, oh my. From 22m out the Australian flyhalf has struck it dead straight, but the over side of the sticks! He’s over-corrected from his curling effort left, and hit it dart straight - but the radar was off. What a morale-buster for the forwards in gold who’ve just expended so much energy. Huge miss from Lealiifano!
20 min: Australia with ball-in-hand. Despite missing the three points they’ve enjoyed a decent patch of possession here. Can they capitalise?
Two or three times bodies in gold have crossed the line, only to be driven back - Alaalatoa, Beale - this is absolutely immense defence! But decent pressure from Australia as well. What a contest!
We come back again for a penalty. All of this coming about after another missed lineout throw from the ABs. Uncharacteristic from the veteran Coles.
Penalty miss! It was just off to the left, but still relatively straight on. Lealiifano with his trademark curling strike, but it’s bended too much and bounces back off the left upright, to the delight of the home fans.
How big a moment could that prove? On such fine margins (etc).
16 min: Nic White takes it to the line, Naisarani ducks the head and tries to burrow through. We come back for a penalty - New Zealand guilty of tackling a player without the ball.
14 min: Hodge looks for touch. They’ve had 37% possession so far, Australia. A big turnaround from Perth (even before the red card to Scott Barrett).
They look for the line - Hodge flicks to Koroibete, who hairs for the corner; but the defence is too good! Three get hold of the flying winger, and they turn him over a metre short of the line!
12 min: New Zealand with all the early ball in hand. White clears with a box kick and Barrett returns fire to Beale from the boot. The Australian fullback runs it, and then Kerevi hits the line hard, but they’ve forced the turnover again with some strong defence, the home side. Savea busts down the left, and they’re lining up down the left-hand edge.
Penalty! Moody infringes and the Wallabies survive.
10 min: Beauden Barrett chances the drop kick! Ooph, that’s not far away. They’re full of tricks and industry early on today. The fullback fires that one from about 35m out - it was well struck, but just to the right of the uprights. A let off for the Wallabies, who take in the early breather.
If you missed the earlier fixture between the women’s sides that finished 37-8. Will we see a similar scoreline here?
Here’s Jill Scanlon’s match report.
7 min: Nic White gets creamed at the base of a ruck, and he only just hangs onto the ball as a wall of Black flies through to clean out.
Barrett kicks smartly for the side and puts Hodge under a full gamut of pressure. It’s a bright start from the ABs!
5 min: Deary me. It’s a forward pass, I think from Lealiifano, who has hit as the ABs rushed out of the line. It’s a terrible start from the visitors - not how they’d have wanted to, and in stark contrast to last week’s game.
Penalty! New Zealand 3-0 Australia
3 min: No mistake. He strikes it well, Mo’unga, and there’s the early nerve settler. Not that they’ve shown too many yet, the All Blacks.
1 min: They kick for touch, the ABs but it’s a wild throw from Dane Coles - that wet, slippery ball could wreak havoc tonight - but Wallaby hands fail to reel it in, and there’s a knock on, and a scrum feed to New Zealand.
They throw it about, under a penalty advantage after their scrum monstered their opponents, but it goes to ground. They come back and Richie Mo’unga - not Beauden Barrett - will line up for an early shot at the sticks.
Kick off!
We’re away, and it’s Lealiifano who kicks off, shallow. But it goes into touch and the All Blacks start with an early feed.
Australia impinge from the lineout and we’ve a very early penalty! Not the auspicious start, Michael Cheika would have wanted.
Haka! It’s TJ Perenara, as we’ve become accustomed to see, leading the Haka. Some stern faces on the front of the debutant youngsters Reece and Bridges. Aaron Smith and Ardie Savea with some fierce actions. And he may not have sung the anthem but it’s a highly engaged Sonny Bill. It’s a variant from the haka we saw in Perth - and a big stare straight at their opponents. Unbelievable stuff. Brings a lump to your throat, every time.
Anthems: Australia first, as the guests. And then the nation with two less stars on their flag. There’s a fair contingent of Wallabies fans in, and they belt it out with gusto. Despite what is quickly becoming heavier rain pouring down. New Zealand / Aotearoa’s anthem also impeccably observed by some sturdily rugged up locals. It’s a tight one, but you’d call an early 3-0 to the home side as an army of be-ponchoed fans stood as one.
Updated
Weather watch: there’s a light spattering of rain - just how we like it for treacherous ball conditions - over Auckland. It does appear a dark and stormy night there.
And as the players come out onto the Eden Park pitch, some memorials for recently departed All Blacks. A sombre start to what will shortly become, you’d imagine, a cauldron-like atmosphere.
We’re not a million miles from kick-off, so let’s review the team news:
As expected, only injury has altered Michael Cheika’s winning formula from Perth last weekend. In comes Adam Coleman from the start, with Rory Arnold out. It might not get too many headlines, but that’s a huge out, especially with no Brodie Retallick in the opposite 15, and an area where Australia did well in game one. Liam Wright could come on for his first cap, therefore. What a place to do it. Meanwhile, Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the bench, and could pick up his 118th cap.
Australia: (15-1)
Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, James O’Connor, Samu Kerevi, Reece Hodge, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Isi Naisarani, Michael Hooper (captain), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu, Scott Sio. Bench: Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Liam Wright, Will Genia, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper.
For Steve Hansen, it’s a raft of changes - both wingers, Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane are out, in come Sevu Reece and George Bridge for their first-ever All Blacks caps. Sonny Bill Williams returns for the injured Jack Goodhue, and Scott Barrett’s suspension sees Patrick Tuipulotu come into the back row. Finally, Nepo Laulala replaces veteran Owen Franks at prop.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Bench: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Jackson Hemopo, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett.
“Michael, do you believe in hoodoos?”
It was an unorthodox question put to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika pre-game, and one that appeared to take the Australian supremo a little off guard. It prompted the expected platitudes about “just focusing on our game” - but be sure that his chargers are well aware of the scale of what lies before them.
Still, five losses since 2017, the ABs. They’re the premier team in World Rugby, but they’re not invincible. Like Ireland in Chicago, the Wallabies will know that history is there to be written.
Hi all! Thanks for joining us today, from wherever around the world you’re hopping on to Guardian’s coverage. There was huge interest in last week’s match, and given there’s a Bledisloe Cup at stake, expect today to be even bigger.
As always - we’d love to hear from you: predictions? key stats? historical reveries? Fire us an email or tweet to join the coverage. Were you there in 1986, the last time Australia won at Eden Park? Let us know.
Preamble
1986. Like something akin to a George Orwell novel, Eden Park has become a dystopian wasteland for Australian rugby, with Australia failing to record a win there in the past 18 attempts.
One of the fabled stadia of world sport, if the Wallabies are to end a 16-year Bledisloe hoodoo, it will have to be in spectacular fashion - at the very heart of enemy territory.
The All Blacks will be chastened, smarting even, after last Saturday’s record 47-26 loss in Perth. It’s one thing to catch a premier team, reduced to 14 men, on the hop - it’s another thing entirely to beat a full complement of 15, that well and truly know you’re coming.
Still, the All Blacks have shown some uncharacteristic errors creeping into their game, and confidence will be high in the Wallabies dressing room after one of their best performances, especially in recent memory.
So get excited for this one. Feed the cats, do the chores you’ve been asked, because this one is strictly “no distractions” category.
