All Blacks crush Australia to retain the Bledisloe Cup

Seven tries to three, and a 12th consecutive win over the Wallabies.

The Wallabies opened the scoring through Tom Wright after a Ben Donaldson pass. Damian McKenzie, starting at fly-half for the first time this year in Richie Mo’unga’s absence, sent Peter Lakai and then Tupou Vaa’i over in the first quarter of an hour. Captain Harry Wilson brought Australia back within three points just before the break (17-14).

The second half was one-way traffic. Cameron Roigard, stand-in captain Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan scored New Zealand’s five second-half tries, with Josh Nasser grabbing a consolation for the visitors. McKenzie finished with 15 points off the tee: six conversions and a penalty.

The Wallabies’ run ends

Australia had come in unbeaten in six, with five wins and a draw, including a 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth on 27 September. They have not won at Eden Park since 1986 and have now lost twelve straight to the All Blacks, their last win coming on 7 November 2020 (24-22).

New Zealand had lost their last three against the Springboks, and have not stretched such a run to four since 1998.

Australia needed to win both Tests to regain the trophy, so the All Blacks retain it before the second Test in Sydney on Saturday 17 October.