Australia vs New Zealand LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as All Blacks retain title
The All Blacks sealed a third successive Rugby Championship title as they blew Australia and Eddie Jones apart with a 38-7 victory in Melbourne
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New Zealand wrapped up a third successive Rugby Championship title with a 38-7 victory over rivals Australia in Melbourne.
While the Wallabies showed improvement defensively, they struggled to match the pace and power of the All Blacks, who appear to be hitting formidable form ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Tries from Shannon Frizell, Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Mark Telea and Rieko Ioane ensured that the Bledisloe Cup will remain in New Zealand’s hands for another year, extending their run with the trans-Tasman trophy to 21 years ahead of next week’s encounter in Dunedin.
And injuries to tighthead props Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou will only cause Eddie Jones further frets as a tough start to his second stint in charge of Australia continues.
Follow live updates from Australia vs New Zealand in the final round of the Rugby Championship below
Australia 7-38 New Zealand, 72 minutes
Marika Koroibete is left on his lonesome again after Luke Jacobson pinches breakdown ball for the All Blacks, but Koroibete makes a much better job of handling Mark Telea on this occasion, clipping his heels and then drawing a holding on penalty.
Australia 7-38 New Zealand, 70 minutes
It always felt like this sort of All Blacks burst was going to come, particularly after Australia squandered those three chances from five out earlier in the half. Taniela Tupou’s period in the sin bin has come to an end, permitting Angus Bell a permanent return as the Wallabies try to avoid letting this get out of hand.
TRY! Australia 7-38 NEW ZEALAND (Rieko Ioane try, 66 minutes)
Right from the restart, New Zealand have another!
It’s an All Blacks classic, prepared to play from deep in their own half with forwards and backs interchanging with devastating impact. Scott Barrett sparks it, scooping up a low pass to show his supple side and then producing a sinuous run that belies his size. Caleb Clarke puts his foot down to accelerate into space and Australia never recover, Cam Roigard spinning it from the base of a ruck with the home side desperately calling for reinforcements on the left. They never come, Marika Koroibete burned by Mark Telea, who tosses an offload inside for his Blues mate Rieko Ioane, who continues to climb the list of top All Blacks try-scorers
TRY! Australia 7-31 NEW ZEALAND (Mark Telea try, 65 minutes)
Will Jordan tees up his wing colleague for the try!
Having continue his own scoring run earlier, Jordan plays the provider, comfortable stepping up at first receiver. A vicious step off his right foot leaves Marika Koroibete grasping at thin air, forcing three other Australia defenders to step in. That leaves plenty of room for Mark Telea on the outside to finish things off.
Australia 7-26 New Zealand, 64 minutes
Roigard lifts the tempo, tasking the men of greater heft with doing the heavy lifting as a fatiguing Wallabies defence starts to fall off a few more tackles. A fifth try surely can’t be far away...
Australia 7-26 New Zealand, 62 minutes
A debut for scrum-half Cam Roigard, uber impressive for the Hurricanes this year in the absence of TJ Perenara. Australia’s retooled front row is penalised at their first scrum-time skirmish since Taniela Tupou’s departure.
TRY! Australia 7-26 NEW ZEALAND (Caleb Clarke try, 60 minutes)
One chance is all the All Blacks need!
All of that Wallabies toil and the first score of the second half still goes New Zealand’s way. Aaron Smith had sniped up the left, ducking under a tackle attempt and almost freeing the arms to let Caleb Clarke have a stroll over. Smith can’t quite get the offload away, though, forcing Clarke to go searching, joining the forwards for a spot of pick and go and scoring with a writhe through two Australian tacklers.
Richie Mo’unga adds the conversion.
Australia 7-19 New Zealand, 58 minutes
Can New Zealand finally click into gear with a man advantage? The penalty is booted down into Australia’s 22.
Australia 7-19 New Zealand, 57 minutes
Tupou is done for - Angus Bell re-emerges to replace him, with James Slipper swapping across.
Hang on. Tupou might be in a bit of trouble, his shoulder appearing to make contact with Nepo Laulala’s head. YELLOW CARD! The incident will be further reviewed to assess the level of sanction, with Bell’s return brief and Australia down to 14 for at least the next ten minutes.
Australia 7-19 New Zealand, 56 minutes
A couple of resets probably isn’t want Tupou wanted as Ofa Tu’ungafasi repeatedly puts the hurt on Australia’s wounded prop, Rob Valetini losing control at the rear of a retreating home eight and Dalton Papali’i there to pounce.
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