New Zealand and Australia will both be looking for a first win in international rugby since Test rugby made a return after Covid-19 put a halt to the sport.
The All Blacks and Wallabies played out a scintillating 16-all Bledisloe Cup draw at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
- New Zealand has won seven of the last 10 Test matches (one draw, two losses) against the Wallabies going back almost four years to the day at Eden Park.
- The previous three Tests between the Trans-Tasman rivals have seen each team win a Test and draw the last game.
- The All Blacks have not lost a Test at Eden Park since France beat them 20-23 back in 1994; the unbeaten streak is 43 games with two draws (18-18 v South Africa, 1994 and 15-15 v British & Irish Lions, 2017).
- The All Blacks have played 87 Tests at Eden Park, losing 10, with an 87% winning percentage.
- Australia last won at Eden Park 34 years and 19 Tests ago in 1986 (9-22) and have won at the famous ground on three other occasions (1949, 1955, and 1978).
- The Wallabies last beat the Kiwis in August 2019, thumping them 47-26 in Perth.
- The Kiwis have been involved in seven draws in Bledisloe Cup history, but followed each draw with a win.
- All Blacks’ last win against the Aussies was also last year, a 36-0 thrashing a week later at Eden Park.
Wallabies selections:
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made four changes to the side for Sunday’s Bledisloe Two showdown with New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and blindside flanker Ned Hanigan come straight into the starting side, with Queensland Reds duo Liam Wright and Jordan Petaia brought in as replacements.
This will be Paenga-Amosa’s first against New Zealand where he will pack down between 97-Test veteran James Slipper and his club teammate Taniela Tupou.
Matt Philip and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will get a chance to continue their combination in the second row with Hanigan joined by skipper Michael Hooper and last week’s debutant Harry Wilson as the loose forwards.
The starting backline remains unchanged from the side who took to the field in last weekend’s thrilling draw in Wellington. Nic White and James O’Connor partner in the halves.
Matt To’omua will again combine in the midfield with the damaging Hunter Paisami, who was impressive in his first appearance at the international level.
The back three sees last weekend’s try scorers Marika Koroibete and Filipo Daugunu on the wings and the elusive Tom Banks at fullback.
Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, and Allan Alaalatoa will again be called upon as the front row finishers, with the experienced Rob Simmons alongside Wright as the other forward replacements.
Livewire Jake Gordon will again get another chance for minutes in his early career as the back-up scrumhalf with Petaia and the versatile Reece Hodge in the matchday squad.
All Blacks selections:
The New Zealand matchday 23 features the selection of another new All Black, with prop Alex Hodgman set to make his Test debut from the bench.
Two other new All Blacks, lock Tupou Vaa’i and winger Caleb Clarke, are making their first Test start in their second Tests.
Hodgman is one of several changes in the matchday 23 forwards. Hooker Dane Coles starting and Codie Taylor on the bench, while prop Nepo Laulala returns via the bench alongside Hodgman.
Lock Sam Whitelock is going through head injury assessment (HIA) protocols and was unavailable for selection.
Tupou will start alongside Patrick Tuipulotu. As well, there is a welcome return via the bench for 36-Test lock Scott Barrett, after a four-month injury layoff.
In the backs, Anton Lienert-Brown has been named at centre, while Rieko Ioane will provide impact from the bench.
George Bridge, who suffered a serious pectoral injury in training on Wednesday, makes way for Clarke on the left wing.
Beauden Barrett resumes his position at fullback after his late withdrawal last week, with Damien McKenzie on the bench.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
1.00: PEEEEP! James O’Connor gets us underway after a stirring rendition of the two national anthems, and of course, Kapo O Pango. The Kiwis are playing into the sun in the first half.
2.00: New Zealand wins the turnover and counter-attack. Dane Coles is smoked by human wrecking ball Taniela Tupou. Coles, who can be a bit dirty, starts a scuffle that almost turns into a brawl. What a start to the Test.
3.00: Caleb Clarke knocks-on Jack Goodhue’s poor skip-pass. The weather is dry, so I’m not sure about the All Blacks’ early execution of passes.
4.00: Angus Gardner, the Aussie, ref, resets the second scrum of the game.
6.00: BIG SCRUM by Australia, who won the first scrum-penalty. They kick to the AB’s 22.
7.00: A nine-phase attack ends after Ardie Savea wins the turnover penalty on his team’s try line. Shannon Frizell had earlier won his second turnover of the game, but Nick White regained possession from the flank to kick-start the visitors’ second attack of the series. Savea might have been offsides – funny that.
9.00: Anton Lienert-Brown wins a turnover at the breakdown, the fourth of the game, and the AB’s counter-attack through Aaron Smith to halfway.
10.00: Several phases later, Michael Hooper wins a penalty at the breakdown. What a player. Tom Banks boots the ball to the opposition’s 22. Australia has eschewed another shot at goal due to the distance and breeze.
13.00: Australia has started well, they’ve forced New Zealand into making 27 tackles to 12, and have looked good in the set-pieces.
15.00: Beauden Barrett breaks from inside his half. Clarke, skipper Sam Cane, Barrett again, and Coles all involved in the attack with powerful carries; however, the ball is turned over, and Matt To’omua boots the ball to safety.
17.00: Frizell breaks, but his pass is lost by Aaron Smith and into the arms of Tupou, who boots the ball deep into the Kiwi half. Barrett kick-starts another counter that ends in a penalty. Cane points to the posts. Barrett broke through six tackles before Clarke bounced Hunter Paisami before winning the penalty.
18.00: Peter Umaga-Jensen follows uncles Tana Umaga and Jerry Collins in becoming an All Black.
19.00: PENALTY! Richie Mo’unga opens the scoring. 3-0
21.00: Mo’unga combines with Umaga-Jensen, who pops to Coles before the ball is booted deep into the Aussie’s 22 by Beauden Barrett for his brother Jordie to chase. Marika Koroibete gets to the ball first but is tackled by Jordie Barrett over his try line for an attacking Ab’s scrum.
23.00: TRY! Goodhue bursting run takes him to the line. The ball is recycled quickly, and Smith darts over from close range for his 21st Test try. 8-0
24.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga adds the extras. 10-0
25.00: Umaga-Jensen’s cameo is done for now as Lienert-Brown returns after from the blood-bin.
26.00: Banks makes a handling error in contact, his team’s sixth of the day. The fourth scrum of the game is reset. NZ has had all four from Aussie mistakes.
28.00: Another break by Clarke, who beats a tackle to take the ball to the halfway line, starts an attack. Beauden Barrett kicks possession away though, and the visitors have the ball on the Kiwi 10m.
29.00: The eight-phase attack ends, but Australia win back possession – and a penalty-advantage – as they go through the phases again.
30.00: TRY! Marika Koroibete scores his 14th Test try after the 11-phase attack. Ned Hanigan, Hooper, Tupou, and Harry Wilson all involved in the try as the winger gets the visitors on the board. 10-5
31.00: CONVERSION! O’Connor adds the extras. 10-7
31.00: Joe Moody, who missed Hanigan, is down after hitting his head on Hanigan’s hip; he is out. The stretcher is on for the loosehead prop. Alex Hodgman is on for debut.
32.00: To’omua is down, he looks injured, but plays on. All Blacks have the lineout throw – and penalty-advantage because Hanigan came in from the side.
33.00: Barrett boots the ball deep into the Aussie territory.
34.00: Hanigan is offside again, Savea breaks down the blindside; NZ win another advantage, but the ball is lost forward. Filipo Daugunu did not roll away. Jordan Petaia is on for the limping To’omua. The ball is kicked to the corner.
35.00: Hanigan makes amends for his infringements, winning a penalty in front of the posts. The Kiwis should have taken the points.
37.00: The big hits are coming thick and fast. The Wallabies have been sublime on defence, really thundering into tackles. Anton Lienert-Brown makes a big hit of his own on try-scorer Koroibete before the AB’s get a scrum for a knock-on.
41.00: New Zealand won the scrum-penalty, and launched a final attack before the break; however, the play broke down as the siren sounded, and the ball gets booted to touch.
The halftime score was New Zealand 10 Australia 7
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway.
43.00: TRY! Jordie Barrett finishes off a sublime sustained attack ( eight phases) to run in untouched for his 13th Test try. Clarke, Mo’unga, and Coles were all instrumental in the score. 15-7
44.00: MISS! Mo’unga hits the post. 15-7
45.00: Australia win a penalty at the ruck, it was Hooper again. Australia kick to the Kiwis’ 22.
46.00: Frizell wins the Australian lineout. NZL clear.
46.00: TRY! Caleb Clarke is unstoppable! The winger beats six tackles, bumping off defenders willy-nilly as he broke into the opposition’s 22. The Kiwis recycled quickly, sending the ball to Savea, who spun out of Filipo Daugunu’s tackle to score. 20-7
48.00: MISS! Mo’unga misses from widish. 20-7
50.00: NO TRY! Marika Koroibete bounces Mo’unga and powers over the goal-line, but the All Blacks hold him up. WOW! Banks kicks to the corner because Savea was offside in the previous play. 20-7
52.00: NO TRY! Brandon Paenga-Amosa is not awarded a try because of a double movement; penalty to the ABs. 20-7
53.00: TRY! Captain Cane waltzes over for the All Blacks’ fourth try of the game. It was a wonderful free-flowing attack by the hosts. 25-7
54.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga adds the extras. 27-7
57.00: TJ Perenara breaks down the sideline, busts a tackle before putting in a little grubber. The attack comes to nothing after a knock-on. The Aussies are on the back foot. Jake Gordon is on for Nick White.
61.00: The Wallabies win a scrum-penalty, and clear the danger.
62.00: Australia has had 59% of territory but only 45% possession, which is nine-tenths of the law. Australia has missed 38 tackles to 19 at a rate of 70% success.
65.00: The ABs are in control, the Aussies look tired. The black machine keeps going.
69.00: A sustained attack by the hosts ends when Liam Wright wins a penalty on his try line to save the day.
71.00: Clarke has made 138 metres already.
75.00: New Zealand is grinding the clock down, slowing play as they edge closer to victory.
77.00: Australia has possession, deep inside their half, and will look to counter-attack. They go backwards under pressure as the Kiwis fly up in defence.
79.00: Gordon boots the ball into touch, near halfway. A forward pass by Cane to Goodhue stops a possible try at the death.
81.00: Penalty to the Wallabies, who boot the ball to touch for one last attack. Another penalty after Patrick Tuipulotu is in from the side. Banks kicks to the corner.
84.00: Both teams counter-attack in added time but a forward pass ends the game.
FULL TIME
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The score is New Zealand 27 (10) Australia 7 (7)
Scorers
New Zealand
Tries – A. Smith, J. Barrett, A. Savea, Cane
Pen – Mo’unga
Con – Mo’unga (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Australia
Tries – Koroibete
Pen –
Con – O’Connor
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand),
Assistant referee 2: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Teams
New Zealand
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mounga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Damian McKenzie
Australia
15 Tom Banks, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Liam Wright, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Jordan Petaia, 23 Reece Hodge
