Summary
At half-time in game one of the 2017 Bledisloe Cup, the obituaries were being written for Australian rugby. The All Blacks put on one of the best 40 minutes of test football in recent years to record a point per minute, and the possibility of a cricket scoreline by full-time seems ominous.
The New Zealanders showed why they are rightly considered the best team in the world - they were rapid in attack, impervious in defence and too smart for the Australian tacticians. Sonny Bill Williams looked strong on his return from suspension, while Aucklander Rieko Ioane was slick out wide.
But the Wallabies opened the second half with courage, and were soon the better team on the pitch. Kurtley Beale was ever-present, recording the most metres run, while substitutes Tevita Kuridrani, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Nick Phipps energised the Australian team. The fightback was never going to be enough, though, and when the full-time whistle blew the Wallabies were still 20 points behind.
It was a true game for the neutral - the most points ever in this fixture, the most tries ever in this fixture and the second most points ever in the Rugby Championship. The defensive lapses of both teams might concern dedicated supporters, but the attacking rugby provided plenty for casual spectators.
Both teams head to New Zealand next week for game two in seven days time. The Wallabies will have a hard week of training ahead if they are going to withstand another Kiwi onslaught in Dunedin.
Thanks for joining me on your Saturday morning/afternoon/evening, wherever you are in the world. Until next time. In the meantime, here’s Bret Harris’s match report from ANZ:
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Daunting.
Congrats to the @AllBlacks on a record breaking performance! It looks like the #BledisloeCup STREAK is set to continue! #AUSvNZL #WWENZ pic.twitter.com/2uGrEUmILE
— WWE New Zealand (@WWENZ) August 19, 2017
FT: Australia 34-54 New Zealand
80 min: And it’s all over at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. A valiant comeback from Australia, but was never going to be enough after utter dominance from the All Blacks in the first half.
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77 min: Australia regain possession and swing the ball around in goal to create space for Beale, who has had a good return to test rugby. Can the Wallabies find another? Folau has a red hot go and gets within 10 metres of the Kiwi try line, before the All Blacks steal.
76 min: Desperate dive from Foley leads to a decision of simultaneous grounding from the TMO. Prospective try scorer Barrett is not impressed and suggests they flip a coin instead. Attacking scrum to the All Blacks.
75 min: Kiwi Barrett finds space on the left hand side with a kick and chase, and then charges down a kick to put the Wallabies in trouble in goal. Barrett thinks he put the ball down first, but the referee is checking with his colleague as to whether the New Zealanders have scored yet another try.
The last 10 tries statistic makes for interesting reading (latest-earliest): Aus, Aus, Aus, Aus, NZ, NZ, NZ, NZ, NZ, NZ. Meanwhile, the Aussies get a telling off from the referee: “To say I hadn’t called anything is pretty dishonest,” he admonishes after giving the Wallabies a penalty. Yes sir.
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Australia 34-54 New Zealand
68 min: The Wallabies are given the benefit of the doubt and a Foley conversion puts Australia just 20 points behind. The Kiwis may have taken their foot off the accelerator, but this is still a strong second half showing from the home team.
68 min: Try? Israel Folau collects the ball amid confusion, and speeds to the try line. Some concern from the referee about offside - they go upstairs.
67 min: Polota-Nau wins a penalty for the Australians, who have now used all their substitutes. The Wallabies send a long kick into touch and will look to maintain this attacking moment.
The snappers are doing a nice job this evening at ANZ Stadium, although it makes tough viewing for Australian fans. Exhibit A.
Australia 27-54 New Zealand
61 min: Beautiful rugby from Beale in his first game in Australian colours since the World Cup, collecting a misplaced ball before running 50 metres and outpacing the chasing All Blacks defence. Foley converts from the sideline.
60 min: Australia show some resoluteness in defence with the All Blacks right on their try line, before collecting the ball and making good ground via a monster effort from Speight. Foley then sends a high ball to substitute Simmons, who can’t hold on and knocks it forward.
I’m enjoying the All Blacks’ Twitter efforts tonight, while the Wallabies are keeping with a fairly orthodox approach to social media. If Australia can’t beat New Zealand on the pitch, at least they might step up their Twitter game?
TRY! That's the eighth for the #AllBlacks! This time it's @bensmithotago with the five-pointer. Barrett converts to make it 54-6.#AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/XgjT5PEWvP
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 19, 2017
Australia 20-54 New Zealand
55 min: Try! Experienced substitute Tevita Kuridrani continues the Wallabies comeback. Is it #on?
Scott Flavell writes in from a pub in London: “Watching this at the Clapham North in London with a bunch of Kiwis. All the Woefully mob have fled, or at least removed scarves etc. I was looking forward to some Kiwi sledging but have been forced to remain silent. What has become of Australian Rugby?”
That is indeed the question. Perhaps Rona’s try will bring the scarves back out.
Australia 13-54 New Zealand
51 min: Rona! The Australian debutant collects a short pass from substitute Phipps to find Australia’s first try. Foley converts. Is this the start of the Wallabies come back?
49 min: Folau takes a high ball and finds Beale, who navigates New Zealand traffic and race towards the try line. He offloads but the Australians are eventually held-up by an imposing Kiwi defence. Scrum Australia.
At least our Australian readers can make political jokes.
At least @Barnaby_Joyce will be happy with the #Allblacks scoreline over the @qantaswallabies #auspol #bledisloecup
— Jonathon Clark (@glasses_jono) August 19, 2017
Australia 6-54 New Zealand
48 min: Squire evades several Wallabies attackers, offloads to Aaron Smith who finds club team-mate Ben Smith for yet another try. The century does not look far off. Barrett has no trouble converting from straight in front. This is currently the most points New Zealand HAS EVER scored against Australia, and we still have 30 minutes remaining.
46 min: More sloppy play from the Wallabies sees the All Blacks again gifted possession. The Fox Sports commentary team suggest of the current scoreline: “Nobody saw this coming.” Really?
A reader named Ant Pease writes in offering his “erudite commentary on the first half”.
Australia 6-47 New Zealand
43 min: It keeps coming... Full back McKenzie grabs a nice offload to open the second half scoring on the far left hand side. Barrett converts. Ouch.
Second Half
40 min: We are back underway at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Can the Wallabies turn this around? Probably not. Will they put in an improved second half showing? Our Australian readers can only hope.
Andrew Flood from Griffith writes in:
Australia need to find some possession and test the relatively inexperienced New Zealand team. But that defensive effort in the first-half just gives New Zealand the confidence and play a high tempo game that the Wallabies can’t seem to match.
Perhaps, Andrew, you might speak with notable Griffith local Andrew Fifita and see if he is interested in a code switch?
Well, there’s only one word for this: dominance. The All Blacks consistently outplayed the Australians during the first-half, to the point of embarrassment. Scrum-half Will Genia offers an apt summary as he strolls off: “We have looked sharp in attack, but defence and discipline have let us down” (or words to that effect - my hand written transcriptions are a little indecipherable).
Let me know what you think, dear reader. Email me or send me a tweet.
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HT: Australia 6 - 40 New Zealand
The referee blows for half-time and the Australians trudge off the pitch dejected. The All Blacks have just recorded their best ever opening 40 minutes against Australia in international rugby. The Wallabies have looked listless in defence, and will be in for a harsh Michael Cheika team talk.
Australia 6-40 New Zealand
40 min: Crotty crosses on the stroke of half-time after more New Zealand pressure to compound the Australian agony.
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38 min: A chip and chase from Barrett almost results in another All Blacks try. The possession statistics for the past 10 minutes say it all: 78% for New Zealand. The Aussie fans have had little to cheer about.
Phil Withall on Twitter wants to know “How much has the failed Super Rugby expansion diluted the effectiveness of the Wallabies? The last few years seem to say a lot”. Thoughts, dear readers?
While I am contemplating that, some argby-bargy erupts on the field. The referee tells everyone that they have made their point, and threatens some disciplinary action if it happens again.
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Australia 6-33 New Zealand
33 min: SONNY BILL WILLIAMS! Four games off have clearly not troubled the rugby league convert, who is untroubled by the Wallabies defence after receiving the ball five metres out. First ever try for Williams against Australia, and he looks pleased. New Zealand convert to extend their lead, while the referee apologises to the Australian captain Hooper for the possibility he was not offside after all.
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32 min: New Zealand line-out 22m from the Australian line. The All Blacks begin the threaten, when Australia are penalised for Michael Hooper’s offside. The Kiwis opt to kick for touch, rather than taking an easy three points. The writer in me is also very pleased by the multiple synonyms available for New Zealand in the rugby context.
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We have an update from Martin Turnbull, who assures us he is no relation to the Australian prime minister. “Thank goodness my other bet was a record win to the Kiwis. Looking very much like it. Dear me.”
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An eagle-eyed Twitterer thinks they know the reason for the current All Blacks dominance.
#BledisloeCup are Norwich Football Club playing the All Blacks? If so this is very unfair, they are much better at soccer pic.twitter.com/fSlmBlUQe9
— HareBrayn (@HareBrayn) August 19, 2017
29 min: The All Blacks almost go the length of the field after a bust from Sonny Bill Williams. Finally the Wallabies manage to drag the rampaging Kiwis down just metres out from the line, Will Genia doing well to recover. Scrum to Australia.
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28 min: Missed tackles and dropped balls have caused all sorts of headaches for the Wallabies so far tonight. But in attack the Australians have found space and looked dangerous with the ball in hand. It’s not over yet, although another Kiwi try would make things very difficult for the Wallabies.
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Australia 6-26 New Zealand
24 min: Slick passing from the All Blacks finds a gap, with no 13 Ryan Crotty pouncing over. New Zealand convert, and that’s 19 unanswered points. This is starting to get ugly for the Wallabies.
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Robin Hazlehurst has been in touch to suggest the Australians didn’t do their homework. I wonder if Michael Cheika has a dog? “I guess the Aussies didn’t watch the Lions tour then. The Lions success came from a very fast defence line and slowing the game in other areas. The Aussies are playing at 200mph everywhere except in defence. Seems risky, I fear for them.”
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Australia 6-19 New Zealand
20 min: Rieko Ioane does it again, finding his second try in three minutes. The Kiwis bust through and Ioane is too quick for the chasers to dive over right in front. This is looking bad for the men in yellow. Barrett converts to extend the New Zealand lead.
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Australia 6-12 New Zealand
17 min: After sustained attacking pressure from the All Blacks, testing Australia on both sides, speedster Rieko Ioane finds a gap on the far left hand side. He just gets the ball down before being bundled into touch, with the video referee confirming the try is good. New Zealand miss the conversion.
The Kiwis are happy on Twitter.
18' | TRY! Slick hands outwide and Rieko Ioane lays on a brilliant finish to make it 12-6 to the #AllBlacks.#AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/3NdRZZpnlk
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 19, 2017
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Australia 6-7 New Zealand
16 min: Penalty to Australia, Foley converts and brings Australia back within a point of the All Blacks.
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The big drama in Australian rugby in recent months has been the fate of the fifth Super Rugby, following Sanzaar’s decision to downside. Last week the Western Force were axed, and fans are making their feelings felt in Sydney tonight.
12 min: Australia immediately respond, Speight finding space on the right-hand side before the Wallabies switch back to the left. Back to the right they go through Beale, before the ball hits the referee just as the Australians were looking dangerous. Scrum.
Australia 3-7 New Zealand
9 min: After surprising the Wallabies with a quick line-out, the All Blacks test the Australian defence on both sides of the park before finding space on their left-hand flank. Liam Squire outpaces his opposite number to secure the first New Zealand try of the night!
TRY! Great hands from the #AllBlacks and Liam Squire shows great pace outwide to score the opening try of the Test!#AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/ugF7Sg9Zxy
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 19, 2017
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7 min: Ball ping-ponging around the middle of the field, before New Zealand win a penalty and elect to kick for touch. This will be the first proper attacking threat the Wallabies have faced tonight.
Australia 3-0 New Zealand
4 min: The Wallabies are awarded a penalty right in front and have no trouble converting.
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2 min: Some sloppy play from the All Blacks gifts Australia possession not long after the kick-off, and the Wallabies show attacking movement on both sides of the field. A promising start for the Australians.
Kick-off!
Martin Turnbull (any relation to the Australian Prime Minister?) has sent me through the first email of the night:
Just put a punt on the Wallabies to beat the Kiwis and by a wide margin. I suspect the old saying, that a fool and his money are soon parted, will hold true.
I admire your patriotism Martin. Given the odds, I suspect you’ll be buying drinks if the Aussies get up tonight.
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Kick-off is mere minutes away. While we wait, I have three big questions ahead of tonight’s encounter:
1. How will Sonny Bill Williams perform in his return from suspension? Will he have a sluggish return, or do the Australian defensive line face a torrid evening?
2. The Kiwis have had plenty of Super Rugby action and played the British and Irish Lions recently; the Australians lack match fitness. Will the Wallabies’ freshness give them an edge, or is their time off going to prove detrimental?
3. Who is Australian politician Barnaby Joyce cheering for? (For our non-Australian readers, Joyce caused an international incident this week when it was revealed he possessed New Zealand citizenship and is therefore possibly ineligible to sit in parliament. The Australian government accused the Kiwi opposition party of conspiring with their Australian counterparts. Drama drama drama)
Once you’ve read Gerard’s contribution, I also commend to you these thoughts from Bret Harris on how the Wallabies can secure an upset. Bret is in position at ANZ Stadium for The Guardian and will have a match report with you shortly after the full-time whistle. Until then, you’re stuck with me.
Good evening to our readers in Australia and New Zealand, good morning to the rugby faithful in the United Kingdom and a warm hello to anyone who doesn’t fit into those categories. Kick-off tonight will be around 8.05pm AEST/10.05pm NZST/11.05pm GMT+1. While you are waiting, have a read of Gerard Meagher’s insightful article on the state of rugby union in the southern hemisphere. For those who live on this side of the world, it makes for troubling reading. On the upside, it has some nice nautical puns. Do let me know what you think.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has offered some words of wisdom to Australian broadcaster Fox Sports in a pre-match interview. “The game will be won by scoring tries,” offered the gruff 58-year-old. “So we will have to score more then them.” Sagely indeed.
Preamble
Crisis is an oft-used word in Australian rugby right now. The Wallabies are at a low ebb, the Western Force have been removed from the Super Rugby competition after a chaotic few months and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss Bill Pulver has resigned. The prospect of an another embarrassing defeat to arch rivals New Zealand tonight threatens to compound a month of misery.
It is not all bad news for our Australian readers though. Kurtley Beale is back, the pack is full of potential and the Foley-Beale-Folau trio provide a potent attacking threat. The surprise selection of debutant winger Curtis Rona, a rugby league convert, could prove an inspired choice.
It takes pressure to create a diamond, and Australia coach Michael Cheika will be hopeful his charges can rise to the challenge. If the Wallabies are going to take back the hallowed Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 15 years, a win in windy Sydney tonight will be essential.
But the All Blacks also have something to prove. That may seem odd, given the Kiwis’ dominance over Australia in both Test and Super Rugby clashes in recent years - the five Australian club teams could not manage a single win against New Zealand opposition this season. Yet the All Blacks were unable to secure a series win over the British and Irish Lions in June/July and will be eager to forget about recent off-field controversies. The return of Sonny Bill Williams after a four-game suspension adds yet another world class attacking option for boss Steve Hansen.
Will Australia pull off a miraculous upset? Are we in for the latest instalment of All Blacks dominance? Send insight/criticisms to me via email or Twitter.
Kieran will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a reminder of today’s teams:
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