New Zealand beat Australia 33-25 last weekend in the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 2021, the All Blacks have owned the famous old trophy since 2002.
Australia is looking to end a 19-year drought in this Trans-Tasman Trophy clash, but the Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986.
- New Zealand has won 14 of their last 18 men’s Tests against Australia (D1, L3) and is undefeated in their last 26 encounters with the Wallabies on home soil (W25, D1).
- Australia has won two of their last three men’s Tests against New Zealand across the Tri-Nations and The Rugby Championship (L1), after having lost each of their six previous clashes in those competitions.
- The Kiwis have won their last five men’s Tests on the bounce, scoring an average of 58 points per game in that span; although, they’ve won only two of their last six games at the Tri-Nations and the Rugby Championship (D1, L3).
- Each of Australia’s last seven men’s Tests has been decided by a margin of eight points or fewer, with six of those games decided by a margin of no greater than three points; in fact, each of the Wallabies last two games at the Tri-Nations and The Rugby Championship have ended in a draw.
- New Zealand has finished four of their last five men’s Tests without losing a single lineout on their own throw, as many times as they had done so in their 29 Tests prior.
- Australia conceded the fewest offloads (3.5) and metres gained (288) per game of any team in the 2020 Tri-Nations; however, the Wallabies did concede the most points per game (24) of any side in the campaign.
- The Aussies gained more metres (481m) and made more clean breaks (16) per game than any other side in the 2019 edition of The Rugby Championship; however, they also conceded the most metres per game of any side (433m).
- New Zealand has scored 15 tries via bench players in Tests since the beginning of 2020, six more than any other Tier 1 nation in that time and five times as many as Australia (3).
- Sam Whitelock plays his 127th Test for New Zealand, equalling Kieran Read (127) for the third-most of any player for the All Blacks; only Richie McCaw (148) and Keven Mealamu (132) have featured in more.
- Michael Hooper (Australia) made the most carries of any forward (32) and the joint-second most tackles of any player (35) in the 2019 edition of The Rugby Championship; however, he’s made 10+ carries and 10+ tackles in a game only once in his last six Tests.
Match detail
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In the meantime why not have a look at the match preview.
1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Auckland, New Zealand.
3.00: A few reset scrums end with a Wallabies penalty for collapsing, the Kiwis conceded 18 pens last week.
5.00: TRY! Rieko Ioane snatches Noah Lolesio’s loose pass, and the centre races 80 metres to open the scoring. 5-0
6.00: CONVERSION! Richie Mo’unga adds the extras. 7-0
8.00: Andrew Kellaway gets one back for the visitors after a 10-phase attack inside the Kiwis’ 22. The winger scored in last week’s Test, too. 7-5
10.00: MISS! Lolesio cannot add the extras. 7-5
12.00: A quick-throw from the hosts leads to an AB pen.
14.00: The All Blacks almost get through, but Michael Hooper makes a last-ditch tackle on Sevu Reece; however, the home team gets another penalty, which they kick to the corner.
16.00: The All Blacks kick another penalty to touch, but the Wallabies hold the Kiwis up after a poor driving maul.
18.00: New Zealand has already conceded four turnovers and two penalties.
19.00: Australia concedes their fourth penalty in seven minutes, but this time, the hosts will take a shot at goal.
20.00: MISS! Mo’unga pushes his kick wide. 7-5
24.00: TRY! Brodie Retallick dives in next to the posts for his sixth Test try. A crazy series of plays end with Australia taking a quick-tap penalty from inside their own half; however, the Kiwis win possession and go coast-to-coast to score a scintillating try. 12-5
25.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga adds the two. 14-5
29.00: Referee Brendon Pickerill is taken out at a ruck near the sideline before awarding the Wallabies a penalty for a lineout infringement by the Kiwis.
31.00: PENALTY! Lolesio pulls three back after the Kiwis go offside at the maul. 14-8
33.00: TRY! A poor kick by Australia ends with Ardie Savea getting helped over the line by Codie Taylor for his 13th Test try. 19-8
35.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga slots the wide conversion. 21-8
37.00: New Zealand cruising in Auckland, but Australia look dangerous with ball-in-hand in the wide channels.
39.00: After three reset scrums, New Zealand wheels the scrum allowing the Wallabies to take another scrum from under the sticks.
40.00: TRY! Tate McDermott runs around the scrum, slips Dalton Papalii’s weak tackle, and dives over under the posts. Sensational scrumhalf play. 21-13
41.00: CONVERSION! Lolesio adds the two. 21-15
The halftime score was New Zealand 21 Australia 15
41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway in the City of Sails.
42.00: YELLOW CARD! Ardie Savea goes to the bin for toting-up. 21-15
45.00: The All Blacks look a bit lazy on defence, the Wallabies seem to be pushing them back with ease. The visitors need to make their limited chances count if they are going to get a rare win in NZ.
48.00: TRY! Aaron Smith breaks from a halfway-line lineout after selling Tate McDermott a hot-cake and plays in Codie Taylor for the hooker’s 13th Test try. 26-15
49.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga is on song. 28-15
52.00: Damian McKenzie is taking on a 59-metre penalty.
53.00: PENALTY! WOW, the little wonder sneaks the ball over the cross-bar. 31-15
54.00: TRY! Sevu Reece intercepts Matt To’omua’s floated pass and runs away 60 metres to score under the posts – game over! 36-15
55.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 38-15
58.00: The All Blacks have scored five tries from nine 22 visits.
61.00: TRY! Taylor crashes over for another try, sliding in the corner as the rain comes down. 43-15
62.00: MISS! The kick is wide. 43-15
65.00: TRY! Ardie Savea combines with Dalton Papalii before Savea sends Will Jordan away for his 10th try in six Tests. 48-15
66.00: CONVERSION! Beauden Barrett adds the extras. 50-15
68.00: TRY! Kellaway gets a second. 50-20
70.00: CONVERSION! Lolesio slots the wide kick. 50-22
74.00: The rain is lashing down.
77.00: The Wallabies are looking to claim a consolation try, but the slippery ball is causing problems.
80.00: A big scrum by the ABs sees them close out the contest.
83.00: TRY! David Havili slides over to complete a record win for NZ. 55-22
84.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 57-22
FULL TIME
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The final score is New Zealand 57 (21) Australia 22 (15)
Scorers
New Zealand
Tries – R. Ioane, Retallick, A. Savea, Taylor (2), Reece, Jordan, Havili
Pen – McKenzie
Con – Mo’unga (5), B. Barrett (2)
Drop –
Cards – A. Savea (Yellow, 42′)
Australia
Tries – Kellaway (2), McDermott
Pen – Lolesio
Con – Lolesio (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2: Mike Fraser
TMO: Glenn Newman
Teams
New Zealand
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Jordie Barrett
Australia
15 Tom Banks, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Tate McDermott, 1 James Slipper, 2 Brandon Paenga Amosa, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Darcy Swain, 5 Matt Philip, 6 Lachie Swinton, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 8 Rob Valetini
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakaia Loto, 20 Harry Wilson, 21 Nic White, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Reece Hodge
