Oliver Trenchard's match report
Summary
So, first things first. It’s a very special night in Perth, and for long-suffering fans of Australian rugby it’s a performance, and a result, for the scrapbooks. By Kieran Read’s own admission the Wallabies were “brilliant”. And ahead of a World Cup for which expectations have been incredibly low, it’s a huge shot in the arm for the players, the staff, and for Australian rugby fans.
61,241 fans packed in - although many of them supporting the All Blacks, it must be said. But while the champagne corks are still popping it’s hard not to see reasons not to get caught in the ephemeral bubbles. For Western Australians witnessing one of the nation’s greatest victories over its nearest and greatest rivals there will be the bitter lining of heading home reflecting on the loss of their own Super Rugby franchise that denies them such spectacles on a regular occasion at this special venue.
In terms of the Bledisloe Cup - it’s a great win (but could ultimately seen the trophy stay in NZ with a loss next week at Eden Park). In terms of the Rugby Championship - it’s a great win (but could see the South Africans run away with the competition with a win over Argentina). In terms of the World Cup - it’s a great win (but could put opponents on guard as to Australia’s new combinations and attacking ethos).
Would you go as far to say a Pyrrhic victory? Probably not. But it’s one that will have stung the All Blacks. Steve Hansen will not have enjoyed watching his side concede 47-points against any one; let alone New Zealand’s traditional rivals.
Some will say the red card to Scott Barrett turned the contest. We will never know, but it would have been interesting to see how this one would have unfolded 15-v-15.
Take nothing away from Australia though - they looked imperious at times: Nic White delivered quick ball, got the backs moving sharply and the returning James O’Connor combined brilliantly with Hodge, giving Australia a play-making option out wide. The set piece, as it was against Argentina, remained solid - good at the scrum, good in the lineout. Michael Hooper has his detractors, but he was immense, the skipper - here, there and everywhere - involved, never giving up, chasing everything down.
As stand alone performances go, it’s as good as any we’ve seen from the Wallabies. Now to see if this becomes the launch pad for something greater.
Thanks for your company tonight - on what was a remarkable night of rugby. Stay tuned for next week’s return clash. From the one, the only, Eden Park.
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Plenty of traffic on Twitter as well:
@rrjparkin Rugby Union needs a competitive Australian team and it looks as if we have one again at last
— mick wood (@paganbilly) August 10, 2019
Mick - it’s interesting. How much can Australian rugby supporters read into this result?
One swallow doesn’t a summer make - but if you consider where the Wallabies have been a year or so back, it definitely looks promising.
I’ve been a big fan of Will Genia, but you can’t deny the influence Nic White has had on proceedings tonight. Suddenly a 2018-coloured nightmare (Phipps? Foley?) is starting to recede - could White and Lealiifano be the combination to guide Australia in Japan?
James O’Connor was also a big inclusion pre-game - and in his combination with Hodge he’s laid down a massive marker to edge himself ahead of Kuridrani in the outside centre role.
Two from two in the key selections, for Cheika and the Rugby Australia selection panel. Kudos where it’s due.
A flood of terrific emails coming through during that second half - my apologies I couldn’t include more in; it was just a frenetic pace to that entire match.
This from shortly into the second half from Martin Turnbull - or as I call him - Nostradam-tin Turnbull - is worth a mention:
Not wishing to tempt fate but what is Australia’s record win against the Kiwis? Here’s hoping!!!
There’s your answer, Martin. It’s 47 points.
Not to pour cold water on any Australian celebrations - a reminder though, that due to the World Cup it’s a reduced two-game Bledisloe Cup series this year - which means a win next week in the return fixture is enough for the All Blacks to retain the trophy for a sixteenth-consecutive year.
Oh, and did I mention where that return fixture will take place? Eden Park. Still. Few gave them a chance pre-game (please don’t re-read my opening comments to this one) - but if this was K2, then beating the All Blacks in Auckland would be undoubtedly Everest.
Much to ponder for Steve Hansen though. 47 points. It’s a record points-tally put on the ABs by Australia. No doubt many will say that’s due to the first half red card, but it’s still a few.
And now Kieran Read:
“They were really good tonight, and we knew that would be the case. We couldn’t get our hand on the ball and that really hurt us after half-time. We can’t give away that many missed tackles - we have to be better than that. We’ll get back to Auckland, and we’ll build for next week.”
Well. What did you make of that? A big morale booster for Australia? A wake up call for the All Blacks?
An absolutely battered Michael Hooper speaks post-game: “We’re delighted. It was a terrific performance. It’s a really nice build for us - we’re growing as a team. I thought we had some good go-forward. It’s a step at a time. We did it here tonight, but we pack our bags tomorrow and look forward.”
Full-time: Australia 47-26 New Zealand
The hooter sounds - Genia kicks it into touch - and that’s the game! It’s a record win over New Zealand by the Wallabies. And the home crowd, the home players - they’re delighted!
Number six in the world sinks world number one. They jump above New Zealand in the Rugby Championship standings (although with the Springboks still to play it’s surely now the South Africans’ competition to win).
What. A. Game!
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Try! Australia 47-26 New Zealand (Beale)
Yessss! There’s a cherry on top, and what a deserving try-scorer. Toomua shifts early, the backs flick the hands, but it’s a phenomnenal line run from Beale! Like a hot knife through butter, and his teammates mob him in sheer delight!
Toomua adds the extras from right in front.
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77 min: Have you ever seen Michael Cheika so composed in the coaches box? Especially against New Zealand! No blow ups tonight - and why not. His side have been excellent.
It’s Australia with the scrum feed - surely that’s it from here. They need to hold on to it, and play some sensible rugby.
76 min: A chance for some much-needed drinks. All Blacks with a scrum just inside their half. They need to score from this set piece to keep the game alive. What can TJ Perenara come up with?
74 min: Savea with a big fend on the new man Banks! He gets one-on-one on the outside, but there’s nobody backing him up. Rampaging run from the backliner - that was real danger there again for Australia. Danger averted, and it’s Hooper - he’s been everywhere, hasn’t he - who pops up at the vital moment.
73 min: This game has just been frenetic! There will be some tired, tired bodies tonight.
But if you’re Eddie Jones about to name your World Cup squad tomorrow, you’d be licking your lips. When’s the last time you’ve seen the All Blacks so vulnerable?
Try! Australia 40-26 New Zealand (Laumape)
72 min: Wowee wow. Straight from the restart - they play short the ABs, it’s Read who rises for the tap back, it’s straight to Laumape - and he runs clean through!
Beale was up in the line, there was nobody at home, and that’s as easy a seven points as you’ll see anywhere. They refuse to lie down, the All Blacks! As you’d expect.
Try! Australia 40-19 New Zealand (Hodge)
Put that one down to the one-man advantage. Genia flicks wide to Toomua, and it’s quickly to O’Connor who picks out his Western Force teammate. That’s the second time those two have combined, and with deadly effect both times.
Toomua gets it with first conversion - and we’ve hit 40. It’s a record high score against the All Blacks! And we’ve still ten to play. Rub your eyes, Wallabies fans!
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66 min: Hooper with a big steal! Australia boot it long, but it’s straight to Barrett. New Zealand bring back again - they’re starting to see a lot of the pill, which wasn’t the case in the first half.
Perenara spreads wide, before Mo’unga looks to turn the defence around. Beale takes on the defensive line and it’s a terrific return from the fullback!
He brings in back 30m before finding a teammate. O’Connor flicks to Koroibete, and he springs down the touchline! He looks inside, for Hooper - but it’s a diving intervention from Read! The two captains, clashing again. Big effort, Read - he saves a try.
64 min: A scrum to NZ 15m inside their own half. A wistful looking Dane Coles on the bench - few have worked harder than him tonight, but they find themselves down, the ABs.
New Zealand spread wide, but Ioane runs out of real estate and chances a ball back inside which Read cleans up.
Try! Australia 33-19 New Zealand (Koroibete)
61 min: Australian lineout on the 22m. Salakaia-Loto with the lineout claim and then Kerevi smashes through the line again!
White goes close, about a metre out. Rodda sets it up again. Ooph. A big hole in the All Blacks defence - about three of the forwards line up and it draws the interest of the NZ defence, but its the winger who steals in and skips over the line!
When’s the last time we’ve seen the Wallabies put 30+ points on the ABs? you don’t want to go too early - but could something special be happening here tonight, in Perth?
59 min: ABs on the attack once more. They probe right. Hard to get round on the edges when you’re down a man, and the Wallabies shift across well.
Mo’unga skips and weaves. But we’ve a turnover! Great work from the fresh man - Tongan Thor! It’s Tupou who steals. They needs some ball-in-hand time now, Australia. It’s been a good ten minutes for New Zealand.
56 min: So Scott Barrett can’t do much about his red card, but his brother Beauden sure can. New Zealand right back in this. Big 10-15 minutes to come now.
Australia back on the attack, but it’s a loose ball from O’Connor. He had half a hole but couldn’t find a runner around him. Beale tells his backline to calm down. A lot still to run in this Test. What a cracking Bledisloe!
Try! Australia 26-19 New Zealand (B. Barrett)
Here we go! One of the few times Aaron Smith has had ball in hand and the opportunity to hit the line, eyes up. And he picks out his fullback, who steams in on a clever line. Too much for Hooper - he crashes through a half-hole.
Mo’unga adds the extras from near in front. We’re back within one converted try!
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53 min: Back underway and it’s a rare moment of ball-in-hand for the All Blacks (when would you ever imagine typing that).
Coles propes out wide, they build 15 phases, the All Blacks. Read picks and gos. Mo’unga looks to dance through. Smith tries to dance inside, but this is good defence from Australia.
Pat McCarthy joins to chat while we’re in the injury break:
Hi Richard. I think a big question for Hansen is who will be his starting 2, 8, 9, 10 and 15. It is still up in the air. Not to mind his centres. Compared to 2015, that 2, 8, 9, 10 and 15 spine was fairly set in stone + McCaw/Nonu and C.Smith. I think his commitment to having SBW in the squad reflects his nervousness. 6 weeks to make up his mind!
It’s a fair point, Pat. We’ve seen a bit of chop and change from Hansen lately. Is it fine-tuning, or as you say, uncertainty?
50 min: A slight break in play with an injury concern for Rory Arnold. A chance for the All Blacks to take stock. Nobody would ever dare to write them off, but a big thirty minutes ahead - especially with the man disadvantage.
They’re getting through a power of work defensively. Even All Blacks tire though, right?
Try! Australia 26-14 New Zealand (White)
48 min: The All Blacks hit twice in quick succession after going behind, and now so too have the Wallabies!
It’s terrific work from Samu Kerevi he’s brushed off two would-be tacklers, first Smith, than Barrett - that was Lomu-esque! He powers towards the line, and it’s the half-back White backing up inside who gets a deserving try!
Watch that bounce from Kerevi on Beauden Barrett. Wow. Unbelievable stuff. Champagne rugby!
No extras from Lealiifano. That one’s hooked too far. Tricky attempts from the sideline, let’s hope those don’t prove costly.
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Try! Australia 21-14 New Zealand (Salakaia-Loto)
What a start! It’s a try made on the back row - lock to lock, and you can’t stop the tall timbers at that distance! A first ever try for Salakaia-Loto after good hands from Rory Arnold.
Lealiifano with a fine curling effort from the sideline, it comes round - and it’s bounced off the upright! Unlucky!
45 min: Australia again on the attack, they build to 10 phases again, but the All Blacks appear to be defending well.
But wait a second, wait a second..
David Manser has joined the conversation from Bern, Switzerland - thanks for the email:
Re: the red card - Absolutely correct decision by the ref. Intent has no place if we’re serious about player welfare. The best teams will adapt if this rule is applied consistently.
I think it’s great to see the Aussies looking like they might be finally waking up after a torrid few years: Rugby is a better game when there are more than one team competing for the top spot.
Agree David, on both fronts. Questions remain though on whether some referees are more inclined to adhere to the strict letter of the law than others though.
42 min: We go upstairs - has Latu crashed over!
There’s no conclusive angle, but it look likes Dane Coles has done an unbelievable job of getting under his opposite hooker. Terrific defence, Australia restart with a 5m scrum.
Second half!
40 min: No rest for the wicked (well, except Scott Barrett) - we’re back!
Australia with ball in hand - can they make the most of their one-man advantage in this second half? Big test for the ABs. They’ve done it before, but they’ll need to dig deep in defence.
So! Your thoughts on that opening stanza? The talking point will of course be the sending off. To the letter of the law, it’s possibly the correct decision - but was that still harsh on Scott Barrett? It didn’t look especially malicious, but that doesn’t matter if direct force to the head and neck is the issue at hand.
A shame almost to overshadow the rest of that fascinating first stanza. Your thoughts on the All Blacks’ opening play? Are they lacking a little cohesion? Or have the Wallabies simply played out of their socks? Drop me a line - let us know your thoughts.
Half-time: Australia 16-12 New Zealand
Lealiifano kicks the penalty from in front of the sticks, and that’s the half-time whistle!
A dramatic end to a pulsating first 40. They’ve been treated to something here already, the people of Perth. What a big 40 minutes we have ahead of us!
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Red card!
Wow. It didn’t look too much on first impressions, but it is direct contact to the neck and the head of the Australian captain by the Kiwi second rower. He’s tried to duck into the tackle, but he’s a big man and he’s caught the skipper high.
Big call - the All Blacks will be down to 14 for the duration of the match!
39 min: Australia look to drive from the line out, they’re about 5m out. A wall of black meets them once again. Koroibete is involved trying a pick-and-go. Brave from the winger, the big men monster him.
Hooper’s again involved in something. Has he copped a shoulder charge? We go to a TMO, but they were only 5m out, Australia!
38 min: A bit of bad blood. Savea penalised for whacking Hooper in the back of the head while the Wallabies skipper was prone. If you’re a betting man you’d imagine there was something that proceeded that, but it’s the Australians who get the benefit on this occasion. Some out of character ill-discipline from the ABs No 6.
35 min: No! Great defence Australia, and they emerge with the ball, and the ABs get nothing from the good opportunity.
Australia build the phases - nothing flash, just solid metres up the guts. White with a clever box kick and Ioane almost makes a meal of it! The winger slips at a critical moment, and for a half second it looked like Koroibete could have been in! Hearts-in-mouth stuff - but the former world player of the year grounds ahead of his opposite winger in goal. Australia to attack again.
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32 min: Latu hits Arnold and the Wallabies look to spread, but it’s an error. Rodda pinged for an infringement in the cleanout and the AB’s are let off once again. Sloppy play from the second rower.
We go upfield and it’s another penalty - on O’Connor for not rolling away. The ABs go to touch, instead of taking the three. Could this hurt the Wallabies, just before HT?
30 min: We reset for another scrum, White sets to feed, but it’s a penalty against the ABs, Moody collapses, and Hodge looks to boom one of his trademark 50m bombs for touch.
Latu with a key lineout 22m out.
28 min: Barrett kicks off and they pick out Hooper once again - it appears a strategy to target the diminutive forward (at least in height).
Ooph. It’s a rotten pass from Lealiifano, but it was a ball put down by Cane first after a big hit from Alaalatoa. Scrum to Australia 10m inside their own half.
Penalty! Australia 13-12 New Zealand
26 min: Lealiifano faces down the boo-boys once again - is this a home game, or are we at Eden Park?!
He strikes it sweetly, and they’re back in front again, Australia. Just.
23 min: Wallabies probing once again, as they look to build the phases just outside the ABs line. They hit 10 phases before spreading wide. Kerevi charges to the line but Mo’unga pulls him down. Beale charges at the line, but is mowed down and ball goes to ground. We come back for a penalty for offside. Great defence NZ, what a period of pressure from Australia!
20 min: So after that promising start from the Wallabies, they’re right back behind the eight-ball with a quick double salvo from the All Blacks. How often have we seen this in world rugby?! Classic counterpunch from the world No 1 side, who in fairness haven’t been at their best in the first quarter.
A small break in play, and both sides suck in the big breaths. Goodhue leaves the field with injury btw, with Laumape into the fray.
Try! Australia 10-12 New Zealand (Ioane)
15 min: ABs with ball in hand and Barrett fires it deep to Beale. Australia counterpunch and almost find a way through with Hodge.
Oh my. The ABs are straight back in! There’s some controversy on this, Smith with a pass to Ioane that looked forward, and was the winger offside anyway? No checks from upstairs. It all came from a bust from Dane Coles following an Australian turnover. Terrific run from the front rower who capitalised on the broken play. Nic White is furious, he thought that final pass was a mile forward!
Mo’unga hooks wide, no conversion.
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Try! Australia 10-7 New Zealand (Lienert-Brown)
13 min: Read isn’t offside, he doesn’t infringe Hooper, and Lienert-Brown does ground cleanly. It’s a try! Fine work from Goodhue, but what a scrappy chain of events, albeit off a clever improvised kick back inside.
The extras added without error from the boot. They hit back, and right away, the All Blacks! Game on.
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12 min: New Zealand now with a first look with ball in hand. They go wide to Goodhue, who kicks back inside. It’s a footrace for the skippers, Read v Hooper, and the veteran is making good yards! Is he pulled down? Is Hooper infringed? It’s a mad scramble, nobody can bat it dead, but does Lienert-Brown eventually ground it? We go upstairs to check!
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Try! Australia 10-0 New Zealand (Hodge)
10 min: It’s smart hands out wide, and that combination - O’Connor to Hodge - has done the damage! They go quickly wide, twice, the Wallabies, the ball goes to ground, but O’Connor recovers, draws the defence, and his winger goes 49m and land one under the posts.
Lealiifano adds the extras. Hello! It’s the Wallabies out by ten.
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9 min: Australia on the attack, and it’s Kerevi who busts the line once again, but he can’t find Hooper on the outside and it’s a turnover about 25m out from the ABs line.
NZ kick clear and it’s Australia on the 50m line.
Penalty! Australia 3-0 New Zealand
6 min: Fair Kiwi contingent in the crowd as Lealiifano receives the boos, but he nails the kick - early points, and a fair reward for that bright start.
A high tackle on Hooper from the restart - they’re giving away far too many infringements early, NZ, Steve Hansen won’t be pleased.
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5 min: Great burst from Lealiifano, who breaks the line with a clever dummy! He finds O’Connor outside him, but again it’s Read who recovers well to mow down. He just couldn’t find the support runners, the move caught even those in green & gold napping, and it’s a turnover. Great momentum, Australia.
3 min: Wallabies building the phases, they’re probing, but it’s a relieving penalty! Terrific work from the skipper Read who stays over the ball and is cleared out illegally.
ABs get clear of their line, Australia have the change to attack again, but from deeper in the field.
Kick off!
1 min: The All Blacks kick off and it’s skipper Hooper with the first catch. Penalty against the ABs with Goodhue coming in from an offside position!
Reece Hodge bombs upfield and Koroibete puts Smith under pressure at the back with a chip and chase. Lienert-Brown tries to round the chasers, but he’s bundled into touch 22m out from NZ’s line! Good start, Wallabies.
Haka-time! What will Hooper’s men do. The line and face? The slow walk towards? The huddle and cry? (It’s B)
TJ Perenara fires the ABs. Good griefing lord, is there a more impressive sight in world sport than this? Kieran Reed at the apex of the formation, Dane Coles - back in the fold after so long out with an impassioned rendition. Wow. Spine tingles. And impeccably observed by this huge crowd.
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A lot of focus on this man for Australia. He’s back on home soil where he (Reece Hodge and many others) enjoyed great success for the Western Force.
Can that continue form translate into the Green and Gold?
So our two teams are out on the pitch. There’s a lovely Welcome to Country from local Noongar elders - which means we’re not far away from anthems, and of course: the haka. (Spine tingles in anticipation).
So - just how much of a mismatch is recent history between these two nations?
The overall Bledisloe record reads 43-114 in favour of New Zealand, but it’s marginally better reading on Australian soil: 26-51.
Over the last decade though it’s the ABs who have had the wood on their opponents. They’ve been No 1 in world rugby for 400+ weeks and that’s shown out against their Trans-Tasman rivals: 25 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses over the past decade.
Michael Hooper and friends will be looking to make it five. They are undefeated in Perth in six Tests though. Let’s see.
We are of course over in the West today, at the impressive Optus Stadium, where there’s an expected 60-65,000 sellout crowd in attendance. A new venue for Bledisloe - can it bring the Wallabies good luck?
Wallabies - All Blacks @ Optus Stadium. #Bledisloe pic.twitter.com/6FydSFdHEv
— Rob Pouw (@rapouw) August 10, 2019
My spies at the ground tell me there’s a pretty significant Kiwi contingent in attendance - no doubt they’ll be vocal as well.
So, we’re not a million miles away from kick-off, so let’s get on to team news:
A few big (crazy-brave?) calls from Michael Cheika who’s given Australia Rugby’s one-time enfant terrible, James O’Connor a first start after a six-year absence, with Nic White preferred to start in the halves ahead of Will Genia. Tongan Thor and Adam Coleman will give much-needed energy from the bench but the continued absence of David Pocock will be sorely missed at the back of the eight.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio. Bench: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Luke Jones, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Tom Banks.
It’s near full strength from Steve Hansen, who continues with Mo’unga at 10, and Beaudie Barrett at fullback. No Brodie Retallick is about the only bright point for Australian fans - but Scott Barrett who comes in is definitely no slouch. But it’s Ardie Savea - one of the form players in world rugby right now - who looms as a real danger man. Apart from the other 14 in black, that is.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ardie Savea, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody. Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 George Bridge.
As mentioned there is the minor matter of the Rugby World Cup coming up in Japan, which does mean what is usually the key event of the Southern hemisphere rugby calendar - the Bledisloe - is a little overlooked this year. Does this create a glimmer of hope for the Wallabies - to catch the ABs with their eyes on a bigger prize?
Bret Harris has some interesting musings on the topic:
The last thing the Bledisloe Cup needs right now is an attack on its credibility by its own participants seeking greater glory. The World Cup is the priority, but do the All Blacks and the Wallabies really have to diminish 88 years of Bledisloe history and tradition in their bid to lift the Webb Ellis Cup?
Kia ora! Hi! Welcome to thee and thine from wherever you’re following Guardian Australia’s coverage of the Bledisloe Cup. Are you on secondment on the Chatham Islands, cursing yourself for your patchy 2 Degrees coverage? Are you crossing the Nullarbor with the laptop out the window? Or are you lost in the Shetlands, just a curious lover of rugby union keeping tabs on rival form ahead of the World Cup?
Drop us an email or tweet to join the coverage today - we’d love to hear your predictions: especially where the ABs are vulnerable or where Australia could find joy.
Preamble
5,837 days. It sounds like something from of prison diary but that’s how long Australia has waited to have the Bledisloe Cup back in its warm embrace.
One of the great rivalries of world sport, Australia v New Zealand in rugby union was once the very pinnacle of the game. Until the All Blacks etched their name as one of the all-time great teams, sweeping the world for nigh on a decade, and beating Australia for 15 consecutive Trans-Tasman contests.
Curiously, that’s not even NZ’s longest run of supremacy - that was from 1951-78 (although it wasn’t an annual tournament, so only encompassed 12 campaigns).
Can Australia takes steps to ending the rot today, in the first of a World-Cup abridged two-game series? Absolutely not.
The All Blacks winning 16-straight is as sure a thing as Winx backed a 1.01. But, for the good of the spectacle we as Australians will dare to dream. (At least until the 60th minute when the ABs bench proves too strong).
So descale your kettle, plump the cushions and strap in for an inevitable 10-15 minute period of false hope!
