New Zealand v Australia LIVE: Result and reaction after All Blacks finish Rugby Championship with impressive win
New Zealand 33-13 Australia: The hosts controlled the contest after a fast Wallabies start to secure back-to-back Bledisloe Cup wins
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New Zealand ensured a strong finish to their Rugby Championship campaign as they secured an impressive 33-13 win over Australia in Wellington.
Having fought off a late Australian comeback in the first Bledisloe Cup meeting in Sydney last week, the All Blacks controlled the contest as they returned to home soil despite a fast Wallabies start. The visitors flew out of the blocks thanks to a try from Fraser McReight, but could not sustain their effort and failed to add a second-half point to the 13 accumulated before the interval.
The hosts, meanwhile, went from strength to strength as they answered a few questions after a series of second-half collapses in their campaign. Two tries from Caleb Clarke helped power them into an unassailable advantage as their attack began to click, but it was their defensive strength that made certain of victory with Sam Cane, becoming the 13th All Black to reach 100 caps, impressive as he played his final Test in New Zealand.
Both sides were simply playing for pride this weekend as they sit third and fourth respectively in the Rugby Championship table, with neither able to win the tournament. South Africa and Argentina meet later on Saturday to decide the destination of the title.
Re-live all the action from the Rugby Championship clash in our live blog below:
New Zealand 19-13 Australia, 42 minutes
The second half starts as the first did: Taniela Tupou receives treatment after taking a bang to shoulder, the prop having made an incredible recovery having appeared to have suffered a bad knee injury in the opening minute. The strapping is gone from his leg now, too - you do wonder if any damage was done but this has been some effort from the Australia tighthead.
That shoulder seems fine. Australia clear their lines from a relatively solid scrum.
HT: New Zealand 19-13 Australia
Fun stuff in Wellington. Australia got the fast start they so wanted, flying out of the blocks through Fraser McReight, but the All Blacks have settled in after a shaky opening to pinch the lead after the half-time hooter. It’s been frantic, physical and funky, and there’s 40 minutes more to come.
HALF TIME: New Zealand 19-13 Australia
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 19-13 Australia (Caleb Clarke, 41 minutes)
The gamble pays off! An unconventional route to the line but the All Blacks have the try they desired to head down the tunnel with the lead!
The maul was illegally felled by Australia, but the Wallabies looked to have scrambled well to prevent Will Jordan and co. capitalising on the right. Sevu Reece looked to be going nowhere as he crabbed infield in search of space, and Beauden Barrett likewise as he picked up possession.
But this side just has a habit of finding an opening, and it’s that man Caleb Clarke again who provides the impetus. The wing holds his depth as he provides his playmaker with an onrushing option, taking Barrett’s flat flick and bursting between a couple of tacklers. Underneath the posts he dots it down and off the All Blacks trot with a smile and a six-point advantage.
New Zealand 12-13 Australia, 39 minutes
Australia are offside and fail to roll away. New Zealand have their pick of the penalties - points or corner? The latter! Bold and brave but Scott Barrett trusts Codie Taylor and the lineout operation.
The captain calls it to himself and the All Blacks maul towards the line...
New Zealand 12-13 Australia, 38 minutes
The Wallabies kill a minute of clock with a meander on their own 22 a they try to run down time towards the interval. They have to kick long eventually, though, and here come the All Blacks, Caleb Clarke like a locomotive as he chugs up to speed out of the station. He’s not halted until the Wallabies’ 22 has been breached.
PENALTY! New Zealand 12-13 AUSTRALIA (Noah Lolesio, 37 minutes)
Noah’s arc is accurate - the Wallabies nudge back in front.
New Zealand 12-10 Australia, 36 minutes
Held up! Fraser McReight is half-a-foot from a second score but the openside is turtled as he topples over the line, and he can’t contort himself to force to floor.
Back for the penalty, and surely another three points. Yep, Noah Lolesio calls on the tee.
New Zealand 12-10 Australia, 35 minutes
Two penalty advantages for Australia with New Zealand picked up for an offside and a Sam Cane tackle off the ball. That grants the Wallabies some freedom, and Tom Wright spreads it nicely to Dylan Pietsch, dynamic and direct as he darts inward. This is looking promising...
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