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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Your support makes all the difference.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
TRY! Australia 7-12 NEW ZEALAND (Codie Taylor try, 34 minutes)
The maul marches inexorably and Codie Taylor flops over!
Australia managed to stall the lineout drive earlier but not now, New Zealand lower and meatier as they pack together. Taylor buckaroos at the back, forcing those ahead of him onwards until he spies white, lunging for the line. Richie Mo’unga converts.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 32 minutes
The All Blacks capitalise on that under-resourced backline, overloading the blindside and allowing Jordie Barrett to make metres with long strides as he brushes Tate McDermott off his hip. Infield now, Codie Taylor providing excellent support and New Zealand up into full flow.
Back to the left, and numbers again for the visitors. Ardie Savea frees Mark Telea up the touchline but the Wallabies scramble across, Jordan Petaia patting Telea’s infield offload into touch.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 30 minutes
Rob Valetini retreats in haste to beat Beauden Barrett to a bouncing ball after the full-back launches his latest lob wedge on the counter-attack. Samu Kerevi makes a few metres with a forthright charge but Angus Bell loses control of the ball as he hits the deck two phases later, the loosehead prop’s fumble giving New Zealand a scrum feed on their own ten-metre line with half of Marika Koroibete’s time on the naughty step having elapsed.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 28 minutes
Australia down to 14, then, but surely heartened by that goalline stand, with the All Blacks unable to break through. It does just feel like New Zealand have been a little bit rattled by the way the Wallabies have gone hard at the breakdown, Aaron Smith making an error as he catches the ball on some ruck debris while preparing to release his pass.
No try! Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 26 minutes
Chalked off! TMO Tom Foley isn’t satisfied that Telea’s little tap had appreciably moved the ball, granting Australia a reprieve.
There’s a card coming, though - Koroibete’s intervention from an offside position sees him sent to the sin bin.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 26 minutes
The ball pops out of a ruck after Codie Taylor carries, but Marika Koroibete can’t resist picking it up from an offside position. Another penalty to New Zealand.
A tap and go and Mark Telea looks to have scored - provided there was a touch with his toe before he bolted for the line...
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 25 minutes
Excellent maul defence from Australia, but Shannon Frizell rocks back Allan Alaalatoa to re-generate a bit of momentum for the visitors. The All Blacks build steadily.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 23 minutes
The All Blacks go to their power game to make progress, punching their way up through Australia’s fringe defence as Aaron Smith flicks left and right. Australia are penalised five metres out. New Zealand opt for the corner.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 22 minutes
Barnes’s eagle eyes work against Australia now, a clearer pinged for sealing off on the left after Jordan Petaia and Andrew Kellaway had combined smartly to make a break on the right.
Australia 7-5 New Zealand, 20 minutes
Australia’s intensity at the breakdown is beginning to bother the All Blacks. Brodie Retallick takes Jed Holloway beyond the ruck with his clearout, an offence he might have got away with had Codie Taylor not then darted through the gap his teammate opened up. Wayne Barnes sharply spots it - another missed opportunity for the visitors, uncharacteristically inaccurate with their detail so far.
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