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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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:
HT: Australia 14-28 New Zealand
Tough stuff for Australia, unable to counter New Zealand’s pace, power and precision as the All Blacks surged into a lead. It could, and perhaps should, be more of an advantage for the visitors, but until the Wallabies find a way of tightening up defensively the gap only looks set to grow.
Two scores from lineouts courtesy of Fraser McReight and Matt Faessler will give the hosts some hope - but Joe Schmidt’s side will need to be much better in the second half to fight back into this one.
HALF TIME: Australia 14-28 New Zealand
NO TRY! Australia 14-28 New Zealand, 40 minutes
All too easy!
New Zealand strike on the half-time hooter, their forwards sucking the Wallabies in and the backs sweeping back blind to finish it off through Jordie Barrett.
Scratch that, it won’t count! TMO Stuart Terheege comes in to pick up a knock-on from Sevu Reece...and that looks to be a strange call. Reece’s gather at the base of the ruck wasn’t clean but I’m not sure he’s lost that forward. A curious intervention from the official to deny Barrett a try.
Australia 14-28 New Zealand, 39 minutes
A breakdown penalty will grant New Zealand that opportunity...
Australia 14-28 New Zealand, 38 minutes
A butchered chance from the All Blacks! Damian McKenzie cuts Australia open, scurrying by Rob Valetini, but his infield pass is behind Sevu Reece with Cortez Ratima waiting to finish beyond the wing.
Given this Wallabies defensive effort, you’d imagine another opportunity will come but that’s a rare moment of imprecision.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 14-28 New Zealand (Matt Faessler, 37 minutes)
They can! The maul skes towards the touchline but Matt Faessler picks his timing perfectly to burst away, skipping past Sam Cane, who will be disappointed not to have brought the hooker to ground.
Noah Lolesio converts impressively from the left.
Australia 7-28 New Zealand, 35 minutes
New Zealand feel harshly done by as they are pinged despite appearing to be in the ascendancy at the scrum. Can Australia pounce from the penalty? To the corner they will go...
Australia 7-28 New Zealand, 35 minutes
Ardie Savea’s try, meanwhile, took him beyond Richie McCaw as the most prolific All Blacks forward of all-time. An extraordinary player.
Australia 7-28 New Zealand, 34 minutes
The hosts won’t make much of it - after making initial progress with the maul, the ball becomes tied up in the undergrowth was All Blacks limbs lock around it. Nic White can’t extract it; scrum, New Zealand feed.
Australia 7-28 New Zealand, 33 minutes
Tom Wright gets a chance to stretch his legs in the open field, spotting a poorly-formed All Blacks chase. He’s lacking in a teammate to take a pass taht would have allowed the counter-attack to continue, but a lazy New Zealand tackler concedes a penalty for failing to roll away. Australia kick down into the 22.
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