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All Blacks crush woeful Wallabies

JOSEPH PEARSON

History has a habit of repeating itself when the Wallabies arrive at Eden Park.

The All Blacks were triumphant again at their Auckland fortress, where they remain unbeaten for another year after last dropping a test at the stadium in 1994, with the familiar outcome against Australia in last night’s Bledisloe Cup test.

Head coach Ian Foster’s side improved their season record to five wins from nine – and a second against a flat Wallabies outfit – to all but clinch the Rugby Championship with one of their more emphatic performances in recent memory at a sold-out Eden Park.

With the Bledisloe Cup tucked away for a 20th consecutive year after last week’s controversial win in Melbourne, there was no delay in deciding the return fixture and the All Blacks secured the bonus-point victory they needed.

Jordie Barrett was excellent in his first test at second five-eighth in his latest position, with brother Beauden impressing back at fullback, and the All Blacks might persevere with those switches, but the contest was won by the forwards.

The old locks, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, were outstanding, as was Tyrel Lomax who cemented his spot at tighthead prop, and imperious No 8 Ardie Savea.

The Wallabies pack were scattered to turf – notably in maul tries for hookers Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei’aho in the second half – and were lucky to score their first try from a ricochet for Folau Fainga’a, before Jordan Petaia’s consolation on fulltime.

Irish referee Andrew Brace had a frustratingly busy night, blowing up for 17 penalties in the first half, and 11 in the second, as another test stuttered from one stoppage to the next.

The Wallabies were on the

receiving end of two yellow cards in the first half – the second for Dave Porecki after the All Blacks’ forwards earned a penalty try – and coach Dave Rennie’s team, in many ways, were their own worst enemies for their 23rd consecutive defeat in Auckland, missing a whopping 26 tackles.

Lock Jed Holloway’s night started with a break to launch a Wallabies attack in the first minute, but he was in the sinbin within seconds for a dangerous throw on Dalton Papali’i that was, eventually, reviewed by Welsh TMO Ben Whitehouse after a needless delay.

Holloway’s lift was dangerous but mitigating circumstances, such as Papali’i’s landing on his back, downgraded his punishment from red to yellow.

Still, the Wallabies survived an early All Blacks onslaught, and turned their Kiwi hosts around without punching significantly through their defence.

Richie Mo’unga’s opening penalty goal in the 21st minute was also punishment for the concession of seven penalties, then Will Jordan’s brilliant, arrowing run for the first try stunned the ill-disciplined Wallabies.

Rieko Ioane’s swift break had the Wallabies scrambling and a second yellow card, for hooker Porecki, was compounded by Brace awarding the penalty try as

the All Blacks poured forward.

Opportunities were missed, though, and Australia were still in the game despite their 17-point deficit at half-time because they overhauled a similar deficit in Melbourne.

The big moment

Sam Whitelock’s miraculous handling, or fortune, to dot down under the posts right after the break crushed the Wallabies.

The big lock benefited from referee Brace saying the try was good when he went to his TMO.

Match rating: 6/10

As a contest, it was a slowly but surely one-way traffic for the All Blacks, who went to their forwards after some scintillating attacks in the first half.

There were, however, too many tedious stoppages.

The big picture

The All Blacks will know if the Rugby Championship title is theirs after South Africa play Argentina in the final match today.

The Springboks need an enormous 40-point victory to overhaul the All Blacks.

MVP

Jordie Barrett had a decent night at No 12. Whitelock and Retallick were back to their bludgeoning best. Will Jordan was dangerous whenever he touched the ball and lit up the match with his try.

WORLD

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2022-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

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