All Blacks shut out Wallabies in second half to end Wellington hoodoo

Saturday, 28 September 2024

At Sky Stadium, Wellington: All Blacks 33 (Sevu Reece 16’, Will Jordan 22’, Caleb Clarke 40+1’, 64’, Tamaiti Williams 55’ tries, Beauden Barrett 4 con) Australia 13 (Fraser McReight 8’ try, Noah Lolesio con, 2 pen). HT: 19-13.

The All Blacks have beaten Australia to banish their Wellington hoodoo and send departing veterans Sam Cane and TJ Perenara out on a high.

Their 33-13 win at a sold-out Sky Stadium in the second Bledisloe Cup test was the All Blacks’ first in the New Zealand capital since 2018 and condemned the Wallabies to more misery on this side of the Tasman.

Scott Robertson’s men made a nervous start and conceded the first try for just the second time this year, but they finished strong and kept Australia scoreless in the second half to close out a comprehensive 20-point victory.

They even scored a try in the final quarter.

Fraser McReight had given the Wallabies a shock early lead inside eight minutes after boldly turning down an easy shot at three points moments earlier.

But Australia barely threatened after drawing first blood, relying on the boot of Noah Lolesio to apply scoreboard pressure, and went the entire second 40 without cracking the All Blacks’ defence.

Fears that the Cake Tin curse would strike again were eased when Caleb Clarke scored the first of his two tries, right before halftime to send the All Blacks into the sheds with a 19-13 lead.

It was a lead they would never relinquish as replacement prop Tamaiti Williams crashed over shortly after his second half introduction to extend the All Blacks’ advantage before Clarke iced the victory with his second.

The All Blacks were forced to make twice as many tackles as the Wallabies in the first half but they withstood the pressure and their outside backs provided the attacking spark, slicing through the opposition defence with ease at times on a night where four of the five tries were scored by the players in jerseys 11, 14 and 15.

The All Blacks didn’t exactly find out their answer at No. 10 but Will Jordan solved half the piece of the puzzle with a sublime performance at fullback which should see him retained at No. 15 for the Northern Tour.

Jordan ran for 158 metres and scored the best try of the night when he broke the tackle from McReight and sprinted through to score the All Blacks’ second try.

First five-eighth Beauden Barrett was solid rather than spectacular No. 10 after being handed his first start in the main playmaker role since 2022, but perhaps that is what the All Blacks need.

He sprayed his first conversion wide and failed to find touch from a penalty, but Barrett took the line with confidence, had a hand in Jordan’s try and nailed the rest of his kicks from the tee.

Left winger Clarke’s game-breaking qualities were on full display, dotting down twice, including the crucial go-ahead try right before halftime.

But he watched the final three minutes from the sin bin after being pinged for infringing from an offside position.

Although Perenara got the perfect send off in his final match for the All Blacks in his hometown, the veteran halfback endured a frustrating night before being replaced by Cortez Ratima.

He was guilty of throwing a pass directly out, sliced a box kick and knocked the ball on after taking a tap quickly, errors that could prove costly when Robertson finalises his next squad.

Cane got through a mountain of work on defence in his 100th test before leaving the field to a standing ovation from sections of the 31,000-strong crowd, as well as his Robertson who rose and applauded from the coaches box.

It has been a long time since the All Blacks have been able to celebrate a test win in Wellington, but it has been even longer for the Wallabies.

Up next

South Africa host Argentina in the Rugby Championship decider in Mbombela at 4am on Sunday (NZT). The world champions Springboks hold a five-point advantage over the Pumas, meaning they only need to secure a bonus point, or to deny Argentina one, to clinch their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. The All Blacks don’t play again until October 26, when they meet Japan in Yokohama en route to Europe.