That is that. The Bledisloe Cup remains in New Zealand yet again. A reminder that this is not the final match between the two teams this year, with the sides set to meet on October 27 in Yokohama, venue for the Rugby World Cup 2019 final.
That final is 2019 is what both of these teams are working towards in the long term. The Wallabies have a lot of work to do if they are to stake a challenge for the Webb Ellis Cup trophy next year in Japan.
The All Blacks today once again proved why they continue to be the team to beat in international rugby with a dominant display against their Trans-Tasman rivals, turning on the style in the second half to put the Wallabies to the sword. Can anyone stop them?
Thank you for following the live blog on today’s game wherever you are in the world. I hope it was as enjoyable following the game for you as it was for me.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read lifts the famous Bledisloe Cup with a beaming grin across his face.
They keep the trophy for a 16th consecutive year. Next on their trophy hunt will be the Rugby Championship with games against South Africa and Argentina on the agenda in the weeks to come.
Australia captain Michael Hooper speaking on the pitch after the game: “Something’s not going right in our game at the moment. I’ve got full confidence that we can turn the corner.”
Keven Mealamu presents Owen Franks with his 100th cap for the All Blacks.
All of the Wallabies remain on the pitch this time to applaud Franks. We have it on good authority that the two sides will share a beer or two after the game tonight too.
Franks puts his 100th cap on. He looks good in black and white, doesn’t he?
Emphatic. Comprehensive. Just a couple of words to sum up that All Blacks performance.
The way that they turned defence into attack at times was breathtaking, and Beauden Barrett was duly rewarded with a fine all-round performance with a record-breaking four tries against the Wallabies.
Australia were by no means poor. Indeed, they were much-improved from last weekend in Sydney in respect to the line-out and scrum. The All Blacks were simply too good for them though.
FULL TIME: New Zealand 40-12 Australia
The All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 16th consecutive year and secure their 18th consecutive victory against the Wallabies at Eden Park.
Applause from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, waiting on the touchline.
79 min: Boos and jeers inside Eden Park as the try celebration music is stopped following Naholo crossing the line after great combination play with Laumape and replacement Perenara.
The ball from Laumape went forward though, and Naholo is denied his try and All Blacks their eighth of the game.
76 min: Break in play as the All Blacks go through the phases and the ball is lost forward.
A matter of minutes left to play. Can Australia claw one more try back to give their travelling fans something to cheer about?
TRY: New Zealand 40-12 Australia (Beauden Barrett)
THERE GOES THE RECORD!
In the same spot as two minutes’ ago, Beauden Barrett has his fourth try and has his record. Incredible how quickly the All Blacks turned defence into attack.
Damian McKenzie receives the ball on his own 22 and waves inside and outside the Wallabies defence. Leinert-Brown is there to continue to the attack, with the ball eventually ending up in the hands of Beauden Barrett, who escapes the tackle of Koroibete to touch down in the right corner.
Barrett skews the conversion to the right of the post, the first thing he has done wrong this evening.
67 min: Disallowed try for the All Blacks, just as Barrett lines up for the conversion.
Naholo spins the ball wide, an inch-perfect pass, to Retallick on the right touchline, who is again in the right place at the right time. He ships it once more to Beauden Barrett, who dives in the corner.
He would have become the first ever All Black to score 4+ tries against Australia in an international test, but for TMO Marius Jonker to spot a knock-on earlier in the move. No try and no record.
Niall has been in touch to have his say:
“It’s getting em-barrett-sing (again)“
Thanks, Niall.
TRY: New Zealand 35-12 Australia (Beauden Barrett)
MAGIC
That is vintage Beauden Barrett. He receives the ball from Smith on the half-way line. He spots Hooper coming out of the Wallabies line and darts inside, breaking the line and putting on the acceleration. Barrett sprints in between Genia and Haylett-Petty at home for the Wallabies to touch down under the sticks for his hat-trick of tries.
An outstanding individual effort by an outstanding individual.
Updated
60 min: A comedy of handling errors by both sides. The next try could be crucial.
TRY: New Zealand 28-12 Australia (Hodge)
Where did that come from?!
From a scrum in the middle of the pitch, Genia finds Foley, who evades the tackle and sprints down the left touchline. With only Jordie Barrett at home in the All Blacks defence, he pops a short pass to Hodge, who crosses for the Wallabies’ second try.
The kick hits the upright though, and Australia are 16 points adrift of the All Blacks.
Updated
54 min: Sam Cane limps off and heads down the tunnel for treatment. Meanwhile, the Wallabies completely change their front row with Folau Fainga’a coming on for his test debut.
52 min: Almost the final nail in the coffin of the 2018 Bledisloe Cup, but for Bernard Foley.
The All Blacks turn over the ball in their own half following a basic handling error. They spread the ball to the left flank and Naholo breaks through a tackle to offload to Jordie Barrett. The 21-year-old looks certain to cross in the corner, only for Foley to come from nowhere and tackle Barrett.
Barrett touches the ball down, but video from the TMO shows that he had his foot in touch.
Updated
TRY: New Zealand 28-7 Australia (Squire)
Laumape makes considerable ground for the All Blacks after not being held in the tackle.
From the breakdown, Retallick pops the ball to Squire, who burst through the gap in the Wallabies’ defence and cross under the posts for the All Blacks fourth try of the game and second in the space of five minutes.
Barrett sends the conversion through the posts, deep into row Z of the Eden Park faithful. It’s hard to see how the Wallabies will come back from here.
Updated
46 min: The Wallabies look to build from a rolling maul from a line-out on the All Blacks 22 but their stubbornness to keep the ball in the maul costs them as they are adjudged to have knocked the ball forward.
A chance wasted for the Wallabies as the All Blacks win a scrum penalty. Momentum is now well with the hosts.
TRY: New Zealand 21-7 Australia (Moody)
The All Blacks go through the phases inside the Wallabies 22, steadily making metres and edging towards the try line.
Joe Moody is the man who dives over the line, evading the tackles of three Australian players to score his third international test try.
The perfect start for the All Blacks as Barrett nails his third conversion of the game to extend the All Blacks’ lead to 14 points.
Updated
Back underway at Eden Park.
Can the All Blacks hold on and secure the Bledisloe Cup for a 16th consecutive year?
It’s not just the mens’ team of New Zealand that is on top against their Australian rivals.
The Black Ferns secured a comfortable win against the Wallaroos before today’s game.
Updated
HALF TIME: New Zealand 14-7 Australia
An enthralling half of rugby with the game not settled just yet.
The All Blacks showed exactly why they are the most feared team in international rugby with a try from a devastating counterattack just before the break. They picked their moments to attack carefully, although they were not at their best in the first 30 minutes and were rife with handling errors.
Compared to last week, the Wallabies are more assured in the set piece, as we expected them to be. They have caused the All Blacks problems that ultimately led to their only points of the game.
The All Blacks are notoriously dangerous in the second half, but don’t put the black and white ribbons on that cup just yet.
Updated
TRY: New Zealand 14-7 Australia (Beauden Barrett)
That is why the All Blacks are number one in the world. They can punish you when you least expect it.
Ben Smith exchanges passes with Codie Taylor inside the All Blacks half, with Smith turning and twisting on the right touchline to offload to Jack Goodhue, who is stopped metres from the line by a superb try-saving tackle by Jack Maddocks.
All Blacks get the quick ball from the breakdown though, and Beauden Barrett is in the right place at the right time to notch his second try of the game.
He kicks over the conversion. Just the 14 points already for the All Blacks’ stand-off.
Updated
35 min: The All Blacks look to respond with Beauden Barrett and Retallick making headway on the periphery of the Wallabies’ 22.
The defence stands firm though, and they win a penalty at the breakdown. David Pocock, who else?
On replay, Owen Franks has his arm around the neck of Pocock but it goes unseen by referee Wayne Barnes and his team.
Updated
33 min: What a difference a week, or rather changing two props, makes. After struggling immensely last weekend, Michael Cheika looks to have got it right with decisions in the front row after swapping out Robertson and Kepu for Sio and Alaalatoa.
TRY: New Zealand 7-7 Australia (Genia)
Australia finally have their just reward from their persistence on the All Blacks five-metre line.
After the scrum stands firm, scrum half Will Genia picks up from the back of the scrum, darts inside opposite number Aaron Smith and somehow forces the ball over the line to bring up the Wallabies’ first points of the game. Conversion over and we are all square at Eden Park.
Updated
28 min: Penalty again to Australia. How much longer will Wayne Barnes put up with this?
Another scrum to the Wallabies and still on the five-metre line. A definite improvement from their scrummaging in Sydney last weekend
27 min: Another penalty to Australia after Joe Moody is penalised at the scrum.
The Wallabies opt for yet another scrum. We could be close to a card and penalty try if there is a repeat of the last scrum.
24 min: Australia penalty five metres from the All Blacks line after super play down the left touchline involving Koroibete. They had the numbers on the opposite wing at the breakdown, but opted to keep the ball with the forwards, despite having the overwhelming numerical advantage out right.
Wallabies scrum five metres out after opting for the scrum over three points. Crucial that they get this right.
23 min: Another All Blacks handling error, rather uncharacteristic from them as that is already their fourth within the opening quarter of the match.
Scrum to Australia in the centre of the pitch. They win the penalty from the scrum and opt to go again with a scrum.
20 min: Coleman wins the line-out at the back, showing indeed that the Wallabies have worked on the set piece this week.
They are penalised again for tackling without the ball for the second time in five minutes with Coleman the guilty part on this occasion. Any more and we could see the yellow card brandished by Mr. Barnes.
19 min: The Wallabies find touch from a penalty and have a line-out on the All Blacks 22.
17 min: Minor handbags involving Retallick and Foley (I think) but Wayne Barnes has the situation under control.
Another penalty conceded by the Wallabies. The penalty count is rising against them and costing them dear.
15 min: Both teams are playing exciting rugby. The Wallabies try to respond down the right flank, only for the All Blacks to do the same down the other end via Ben Smith.
Australia turn the ball over inside the All Blacks half and could build from here.
And with that opening try, Beauden Barretts reaches 500 points in an All Blacks jersey, becoming just the fourth player to reach the milestone after Dan Carter (1598 points), Andrew Mehrtens (967) and Grant Fox (645).
An incredible achievement.
TRY: New Zealand 7-0 Australia (Beauden Barrett)
That’s more like it from the All Blacks. They look dangerous for the first time in the game, venturing into the Wallabies’ 22 for the first time with great combination play between the Barrett brothers.
Aaron Smith gives the ball to Beauden Barrett who runs through the massive Israel Folau-shaped hole in the Wallabies to score the first points of the game. Conversion is good.
Updated
12 min: A frantic spell of play just now. All Blacks surrender possession twice with basic handling errors but the Wallabies fail to capitalise.
Here come the All Blacks on the counter...
11 min: The Wallabies unable to make little headway inside the All Blacks half, eventually penalised for not releasing at the ruck.
9 min: Australia look a lot more stable at the breakdown and set piece...
..They then have their first line-out of the game but throw it long beyond the last man in the line-out. The Wallabies somehow salvage possession and are going through the phases inside the All Blacks half.
7 min: Good refereeing from Wayne Barnes as he checks on Liam Squire following a collision with David Pocock. He is good to continue following a brief check with the medic.
50-50 game so far inside the opening stages.
5 min: What a steal from Brodie Retallick. He rips the ball on their own 22 and Beauden Barrett can kick clear.
4 min: Scrum to the All Blacks following a handling error by the Wallabies. The scrum collapses, but New Zealand spread the ball out to the wing, only to be blown up for a forward pass.
Chance for the Wallabies to launch an attack inside the All Blacks half.
2 min: Wow! First line-out of the game for the All Blacks and it’s the Wallabies that steal it.
If that is anything to go by, we can expect to see a very different game to the one in Sydney last weekend.
KICK OFF
We are underway at Eden Park.
Here comes the Haka. It’s one of the best for a while.
The Wallabies stand as a pack, together as one, amidst the screams and cheers of the All Blacks faithful. A great way to set the tone for the match.
And the anthems. A respectable rendition of Advance Australia Fair by the pockets of Wallabies fans inside Eden Park. God Defend New Zealand follows and echoes throughout the stadium.
Anthems over and seconds away from kick off.
Updated
Here come the teams...
It’s the Wallabies who emerge onto the Eden Park turf first, followed by Owen Franks who leads the All Blacks out on his 100th cap. He becomes just the ninth New Zealand player to reach a century of tests for his country.
Israel Folau will be a big miss for the Wallabies this evening. Without him, it is difficult to see where their attacking threat will come from. The Australia backs may not see an awful lot of ball today.
His absence in the Wallabies defence will aid the All Blacks to no end. We could see more kicks from the half-back duo of Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett as they look to target and exploit the youthful Jack Maddocks on his first Wallabies start.
First blood to New Zealand...
FT | A massive second half from the #BlackFerns secures a 45 - 17 win over @WallaroosRugby
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) August 25, 2018
Thank you to everyone for your support throughout the Laurie O’Reilly Series #NZLvAUS #DoubleHeader pic.twitter.com/cH2X79ZkJq
Much was made, and quite rightly so, of the Wallabies’ struggle at the set-piece in Sydney last weekend. They lost seven of their own throws at the line-out and were often penalised at the scrum.
There is no doubt that Michael Cheika will have addressed the set piece in training this week. While Michael Hooper and David Pocock are not the most agile and aerial athletic of duos in the back row, we can certainly expect more variations in the line-out from them today.
In the scrum, the arrivals of Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa in place of Tom Robertson and Sekope Kepu at prop respectively should help to stabilise the pack. Those changes in the Wallabies’ front row are aimed to make them more competitive in the scrum and less likely to pushed back or twisted by the All Blacks’ pack.
September 6th 1986 was the last occasion that Australia defeated New Zealand at Eden Park, with the last 16 meetings at the Auckland stadium all going to the All Blacks.
Ben Smith is the only player in today’s Wallabies team who was born when they last defeated the All Blacks at today’s stadium 22-9 some 32 years ago. He was just 97 days old.
It’s not just Australia who struggle at Eden Park. No side has managed to knock the All Black off their perch there in 24 years, since France ran out 23-20 winners in July 1994.
And the Wallabies:
#BREAKING l Your #Wallabies team to face the @AllBlacks this Sat 25 Aug for the second #BledisloeCup Test.
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) August 23, 2018
LIVE from 5:35pm AEST on @FOXSportsAUS, @tensporttv, @rugbycomau radio & @MacquarieSport radio.
READ: https://t.co/jzNvpBxKwk#BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/4MI7VZOvZW
Here’s how the All Blacks line up this evening against the Wallabies:
GAME DAY! Where in the 🌎 are you watching?
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 24, 2018
⏰ Sat 25 August, 7.35pm (NZT)
🏟️ @edenparknz
📺 @skysportnz in NZ
🗒️ https://t.co/sz3iQbnQeN
🏉 #NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/mims1TBGvt
Good evening, afternoon and morning to wherever you are in the world. Here it is. Another meeting between the two heavyweights of southern hemisphere rugby.
Welcome to The Guardian’s live blog of the second Bledisloe Cup match of 2018. Please do get in touch via email or on Twitter and let me know where in the world you are following the game from and your thoughts on the match.
Preamble
Domination is defined in the dictionary as “the state of having control over people or a situation”.
Domination may be an understatement to describe the All Blacks’ results in recent years against the Wallabies in this fixture. They certainly have control over Australia. Even more so when home advantage and the graveyard of Australian rugby in Eden Park are factored in.
There are few fixtures in international rugby that whet the appetite like the Bledisloe Cup though and we must not forget that these two teams are the best on offer in the southern hemisphere, and indeed, two of the best in the world rugby.
However, with the All Blacks winning by 25 points in Sydney last weekend, few would bet against them defeating the Wallabies by a similar margin or greater in Auckland this evening as they bid to secure the Bledisloe Cup for a 16th successive year, making the meeting in Yokohama in October all but a dead rubber.
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