All Blacks vs Wallabies
By Sello Masilo
In an intense Rugby Championship encounter at Stadium Australia, the All Blacks secured a narrow 31-28 victory over the Wallabies on Saturday, retaining the Bledisloe Cup for another year. Despite a spirited comeback from the Wallabies in the second half, the All Blacks’ early dominance and resilience in defence allowed them to hold on for the win.
First Half Dominance by the All Blacks
The match kicked off with a bang as New Zealand raced to a 21-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. Will Jordan set the tone early, scoring a try just two minutes in after finding a gap in the Wallabies’ defence. This was quickly followed by Rieko Ioane’s try in the left corner, and Caleb Clarke’s powerful run for the third try, leaving the Australian defence in shambles.
Despite the Wallabies’ shaky start, they fought back with Fraser McReight diving over the line in the 18th minute to get Australia on the scoreboard. However, any momentum was short-lived as All Blacks captain Ardie Savea extended New Zealand’s lead to 28-7, intercepting a pass and sprinting to score his team’s fourth try .
Wallabies Fight Back
Australia showed their grit and determination late in the first half, with hooker Matt Faessler scoring from a maul just before the halftime whistle. Noah Lolesio’s conversion brought the score to 28-14, giving the Wallabies a fighting chance heading into the second half .
Early in the second half, the All Blacks were awarded a penalty, which Damian McKenzie slotted over to stretch the lead to 31-14. The Wallabies, however, refused to back down. They mounted an impressive second-half comeback, highlighted by Hunter Paisami crashing over for a try in the 65th minute after a sustained period of pressure .
Dramatic Final Moments
With the scoreline at 31-21 and the Wallabies gaining momentum, the All Blacks found themselves under increasing pressure, especially after two of their players—Anton Lienert-Brown and Caleb Clarke—were sent to the sin bin in quick succession, leaving New Zealand with only 13 men. The Wallabies capitalised on this advantage, with Tom Wright scoring a crucial try to close the gap to just three points .
As the game entered its final minutes, Australia pushed hard for a winning try. The crowd of 68,061 at Stadium Australia was on its feet as the Wallabies launched attack after attack, but the All Blacks’ defence held firm, securing the narrow victory and their eighth consecutive Bledisloe Cup triumph .
Key Takeaways
The victory was significant for the All Blacks, not only because it ensured the retention of the Bledisloe Cup for the 23rd consecutive year, but also because it marked a bounce-back performance after recent losses in the Rugby Championship. Will Jordan’s return to the starting lineup at fullback proved pivotal, and captain Ardie Savea’s leadership and try-scoring abilities were instrumental in the win.
For the Wallabies, the loss extended their Bledisloe Cup drought to 23 years. However, there were positive signs, especially in their second-half performance, where they outplayed the All Blacks for large periods. Prop James Slipper celebrated a milestone, becoming the most capped Wallaby with 140 Test appearances, surpassing George Gregan’s record .
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