Keeping the Bledisloe Cup for another year, the All Blacks overcame playing with only 13 players for around 10 minutes during a stunning Australian second-half comeback before claiming a 31-28 win at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
\nHowever, there was again no answer to the final quarter points starvation diet they have endured throughout the Lipovitan D Rugby Championship. They were again guilty of losing discipline under pressure at vital stages.<\/p>\n
Up 28-14 at halftime, the All Blacks demonstrated their latent attacking potential again, but their failure to seize chances again hit them hard. Australia’s defence in the first half was poor, missing 23 tackles to seven.<\/p>\n
However, the loss of replacement five-eighths Anton Lienert-Brown after the All Blacks were hit for too many penalties in their 22m area and wing Caleb Clarke for a deliberate knockdown allowed Australia back into the game.<\/p>\n
While the All Blacks failed to eliminate their fourth-quarter scoring vacuum, the Australians emerged with credit. They turned around their heaviest defeat in Argentina in their last outing to get within three points of the All Blacks.<\/p>\n
It was a nervous, if exciting finish, only achieved when they denied the Australians the chance to run out the final restart of the game.<\/p>\n
No8 Ardie Savea and replacement halfback TJ Perenara won a turnover by holding up the Australian maul. Savea kicked the ball out from the resulting scrum to end the game.<\/p>\n
It was frustrating for the All Blacks. TMO judgments ruled out three tries, and Australia missed out on one, similarly.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks’ ability to pick up crucial turnovers was a significant factor in their holding on to win. Savea was always prominent, but his blindside counterpart, Wallace Sititi, was outstanding throughout. Halfback Cortez Ratima also made an impact as the All Blacks threatened to run rampant.<\/p>\n
They lost Jordie Barrett at halftime, when he suffered a knee injury in the act of scoring a try that was one of the trio of tries ruled out, and that upset the backline rhythm where he and centre Rieko Ioane gelled better than at any time in the season.<\/p>\n
A 65th-minute try, scored by second five-eighths Hunter Paisami, narrowed the All Blacks lead to 10 points, with Lienert-Brown suffering his sin-binning.<\/p>\n
No sooner had they scored than Australia stormed back from the restart, and it was a desperate cover tackle by replacement halfback TJ Perenara, moments after he earlier slammed a 60m kick from the All Blacks’ goalline after a lineout steal.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks started as if on a mission, quickly dismissing concerns about Beauden Barrett’s enforced absence from fullback due to illness. It took only 1min 31sec to be allayed by his replacement, Will Jordan. He fielded the missed Australian kick to touch set the move in train, powering into a gap 35m out and racing away to score under the posts.<\/p>\n
Even after an eighth-minute thumping in a tackle after taking the ball in the air, Jordan was able to pass the ball back. When Ratima ran from a ruck in midfield, he found space and passed on to Ioane unmarked out wide to score.<\/p>\n
Intercepting an Australian pass, Clarke set in train a movement that unleashed more running play and punished poor Australian defence. When the ball returned to the left flank, Clarke burst through two tacklers to score in the 14th minute.<\/p>\n
Finally, Australia got a break off a long lineout throw. Flanker Rob Valetini linked with halfback Nic White, who passed on to flanker Fraser McReight who scored.<\/p>\n
Australian turnovers, especially at lineout time, and in the 24th minute, Paisami’s pass went to grass; wing Sevu Reece claimed the ball, regathered his feet and passed to Savea, who scored with ease.<\/p>\n
Five minutes from halftime, a scrum penalty allowed an Australian kick to the corner, and from the maul, hooker Matt Faessler came around to score.<\/p>\n
Australia got a massive confidence boost from their effort, but next week’s second Test at SKY Stadium for the All Blacks will be crucial in resolving their execution and final quarter issues before heading offshore for their northern hemisphere programme.<\/p>\n
Scorers: Australia 28 (Fraser McReight, Matt Faessler, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright tries; Noah Lolesio 4 con) New Zealand 31 (Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Ardie Savea tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con, pen). HT: 14-28<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Keeping the Bledisloe Cup for another year, the All Blacks overcame playing with only 13 players for around 10 minutes during a stunning Australian second-half comeback before claiming a 31-28 win at Accor Stadium in Sydney. However, there was again no answer to the final quarter points starvation diet they have endured throughout the Lipovitan…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":21676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/460953595_18458400175057200_6780163316703937049_n.jpg?fit=1440%2C1799&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-5DB","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21642,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2024\/09\/19\/all-blacks-team-named-to-play-australia-in-first-bledisloe-cup-match\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":0},"title":"All Blacks team named to play Australia in first Bledisloe Cup match","author":"Kevin Hare","date":"September 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"CAPTION: Pasilio Tosi will take a spot in the reserves against the Wallabies in Saturday\u2019s Bledisloe Cup encounter. PHOTO: Denis Poroy \/ action press\u00a0 All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have named their All Blacks team\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tosi.jpg?fit=1200%2C844&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tosi.jpg?fit=1200%2C844&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tosi.jpg?fit=1200%2C844&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tosi.jpg?fit=1200%2C844&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/tosi.jpg?fit=1200%2C844&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14367,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/08\/12\/all-blacks-team-named-for-second-bledisloe-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":1},"title":"All Blacks team named for second Bledisloe Cup","author":"admin_hland","date":"August 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"All Blacks team named for second Bledisloe Cup Fortinet Rugby Championship Test against Australia The All Blacks team has been named to play Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup Fortinet Rugby Championship Test at Eden Park on Saturday 14 August (kick-off 7.05PM). The matchday 23 is (Test caps in brackets):\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/231121358_2039681922850204_7993707913347045157_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/231121358_2039681922850204_7993707913347045157_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/231121358_2039681922850204_7993707913347045157_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/231121358_2039681922850204_7993707913347045157_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/231121358_2039681922850204_7993707913347045157_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22955,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2025\/09\/25\/all-blacks-team-for-the-first-bledisloe-cup-test\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":2},"title":"All Blacks team for the first Bledisloe Cup Test","author":"Kevin Hare","date":"September 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Photo by Aaron Gillions \/ action press The All Blacks\u2019 selectors have named their team to play Australia at Eden Park this Saturday evening, with Ardie Savea to captain the side following a shoulder injury to Scott Barrett. LIVE on Sky Sport \u2013 Saturday 27 September:\u202f All Blacks vs Australia,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/abs550.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/abs550.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/abs550.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/abs550.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/abs550.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12455,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2020\/09\/15\/new-zealand-bledisloe-cup-matches-confirmed\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":3},"title":"New Zealand Bledisloe Cup matches confirmed","author":"admin_hland","date":"September 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The dates for the two Bledisloe Cup Tests in New Zealand have been confirmed by New Zealand Rugby (NZR), with the All Blacks to play the Wallabies at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Sunday 11 October and a week later at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday 18 October.","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8973,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2019\/08\/15\/all-blacks-team-named-for-investec-challenge-bledisloe-cup-test\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":4},"title":"All Blacks team named for Investec Challenge Bledisloe Cup Test","author":"admin_hland","date":"August 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"All Blacks team named for Investec Challenge Bledisloe Cup Test The All Blacks team has been named to play Australia in the Bledisloe Cup Investec Challenge Test at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 17 August. (Kick-off: 7.35PM NZT). The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets): 1.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/bledisloe2015.jpg?fit=960%2C585&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5935,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2017\/08\/17\/all-blacks-team-named-for-opening-bledisloe-cup-clash\/","url_meta":{"origin":21675,"position":5},"title":"All Blacks team named for opening Bledisloe Cup clash","author":"admin_hland","date":"August 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby All Blacks team named for opening Bledisloe Cup clash The All Blacks team has been named to play the opening Bledisloe Cup - Investec Championship match against Australia at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 19 August 2017. The matchday 23 (with Test caps in brackets) is: 1. 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