Australia v New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction as All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback
The Wallabies threatened to pull off a remarkable turnaround but fell just short
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Your support makes all the difference.New Zealand survived a thrilling Australia comeback to cling on to a narrow victory in Sydney and continue their stronghold over the Bledisloe Cup.
With both sides looking to salvage difficult Rugby Championship campaigns, the All Blacks started fast and surged into a 21-0 lead as they ran rampant in the first 15 minutes. A further try from Ardie Savea before half-time suggested that Scott Robertson’s visitors would pull clear in the second half to incflict more punishment on a wounded Wallabies side still searching for direction.
But the hosts swelled in the second half, with their bench making a significant impact to swing momentum their way. Keeping the All Blacks to just a single Damian McKenzie penalty after the interval, late tries from Hunter Paisami and Tom Wright moved Australia to within a score as they threatened to produce a remarkable, unexpected fightback.
Yet despite New Zealand losing two backs to the sin bin, there was always just slightly too much for Joe Schmidt’s side to do after their sluggish start. With a second and final Bledisloe Cup meeting of the year to come in Wellington next week, the All Blacks have retained the trans-Tasman prize, as they have done each year since 2003.
Re-live all the action from Sydney in our live blog below:
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 65 minutes
There goes Lukhan Salakaia-Loto! The big lock goes bounding between a gaping hole in the All Blacks fringe defence and crunches to within ten metres of the New Zealand line.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 64 minutes
A less effective clearance from Perenara a couple of minutes later travels as far as the forearm of the giant Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, and the replacement nine is fortunate that it ricochets right to Damian McKenzie. He completes the clearing job.
Sam Cane is replaced by Luke Jacobson.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 62 minutes
A misfire! The All Blacks get two jumpers up and Wallace Sititi, the second of them, ensures Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s throw fails to find its target. TJ Perenara clears quite brilliantly off his left boot.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 61 minutes
A no-arms tackle from Tamaiti Williams gives Australia a penalty. To the corner they go.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 59 minutes
The All Blacks haven’t got their red zone intensity or accuracy right in this half, another opportunity squandered with Allan Alaalatoa seemingly the man with the pinching paws. Australia’s defence has been much, much better since the interval.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 58 minutes
TJ Perenara replaces Ratima at scrum half. An excellent outing from the youngster.
NO TRY! Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 57 minutes
And the All Blacks go coast-to-coast to capitalise! But a forward pass will rule it out!
Oh, it was a thing of much magnificence. Damian McKenzie burns Rob Valetini and conects with Will Jordan, who shimmies and shakes a defender. Codie Taylor joins his Crusaders chum and shows his speed, picking his pass perfectly to Cortez Ratima, who finishes superbly.
But Valetini recovered so, so well to snare McKenzie’s shirt, turning the fly half as he passes and thus forcing his toss to Jordan forward. The TMO calls down just as McKenzie prepares to strike his conversion: NO TRY!
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 56 minutes
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is thrown into the Wallabies tight five, Nick Frost off from the second row. Can the Wallabies force their way back into the contest?
So nearly! Harry Wilson makes a half-break but can’t quite keep his feet for long enough to find a teammate with his pass.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 55 minutes
Nic White gets a warning from referee Karl Dickson after screaming at the official about...well, I’m not quite sure. It’s Australia’s scrum for a knock on - Dickson lays down the law, though, to White, one former lippy number nine informing a kindred spirit that any further chatback will bring a penalty.
Australia 14-31 New Zealand, 54 minutes
Still we wait for the first try of the half. Another Wallabies replacement: after three years out of the side, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa makes his international return, taking the place of Matt Faessler. Tamaiti Williams is on at loosehead for New Zealand.
Superb work from Harry Wilson to end New Zealand’s latest exploration of the Wallabies 22 - the Australia skipper pilfers possession and allows his side to clear.
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