New Zealand vs Australia LIVE: Rugby Championship result as All Blacks notch big win at Eden Park
New Zealand 40-14 Australia: All Blacks move a step closer to the title with a thrashing of the Wallabies
The All Blacks put one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy with a convincing 40-14 bonus victory over an error-prone and ill-disciplined Wallabies side at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.
The victory means the Springboks will also need to secure a bonus point and beat Argentina by at least 39 points in the final match of the championship in Durban later on Saturday to take the title back to South Africa.
New Zealand hammered the Australians at the breakdown and a Will Jordan score supplemented by a penalty try helped them to a comfortable 17-0 lead after a fractious first half which saw two Wallabies sent to the sin bin.
All Blacks skipper Sam Whitelock crossed for a third try soon after the break and hooker Codie Taylor and his replacement Samisoni Taukei’aho added further five-pointers to give the Springboks an imposing target.
Relive the action from the crunch Rugby Championship clash in Auckland below:
New Zealand 0-0 Australia
8 mins - Scrappy from the All Blacks. Scrum marching forward but Savea loses control of the ball at the back and it squirts out. New Zealand pounce on it but they’ve lost metres. Wallabies strip the ball and knock on in the process. Another ABs scrum just outside five metres.
New Zealand 0-0 Australia
7 mins - New Zealand scrummage hard again, good ball and Savea picks up and dives towards the line. Stopped inches short but we come back for the penalty as the Aussie front row collapsed the scrum.
All Blacks opt for another scrum
New Zealand 0-0 Australia
5 mins - Great scrum by the All Blacks, pushing Australia backwards and good link up between Ardie Savea and Aaron Smith makes more yards down the blindside.
Gorgeous by Beauden Barrett, scythes between defenders, dinks over the top and a scrambling Marika Koroibete collects the ball in front of his own line but can only take it straight out of play. He actually does so to the side of the in-goal area, so it’s an All Blacks five-metre scrum.
New Zealand 0-0 Australia
4 min - Now Australia will need to be incredibly disciplined to survive this 10-minute spell. They knock on in the New Zealand half, so it’s a scrum All Blacks but this could take some precious time off the clock, albeit the All Blacks can launch an attack from deep
YELLOW CARD! New Zealand 0-0 Australia
2 min - Great start by the Wallabies as lock Jed Holloway makes a break and scythes into the 22. The position is squandered though as they give away the penalty for a lifting clearout and the All Blacks clear to touch.
Now the ref wants another look at the foul to see if it’s more than a penalty? Holloway lifts Dalton Papali’i above the horizontal and dumps him down not safely. Could be in trouble here. Yep... Yellow card for Jed Holloway.
Aussies down to 14 men for the next 10 mins. Poor discipline again, their eighth yellow card of the Rugby Championship.
KICK-OFF! New Zealand 0-0 Australia
1 min - Underway at Eden Park. Bernard Foley kicks off deep, Jordie Barrett collects and is forced back by the Wallabies. All Blacks clear but an early platform for Australia
New Zealand vs Australia
There was controversy last week as Australia responded to the haka by forming a ‘boomerang’ shape and walking towards the All Blacks. Same again this time?
Yes, indeed! Boomerang formed and the slow march towards their foes as they stare them down. Love this! Let’s get it on!
New Zealand vs Australia
Anthems completed and we’re not far away from kick-off now. Just the haka to come.
Last week’s clash was an absolute belter - if we get similar today, we’re in for a treat but Australia’s record at Eden Park is appalling. Remember, the Wallabies need to win to stand any chance of snatching the Rugby Championship title away from their hosts.
New Zealand ready for action
The All Blacks are ready to go at Eden Park
Springboks focussed on Auckland before Durban showdown with Argentina
South Africa will be glued to their hotel television sets on Saturday as they hope for an Australia upset over New Zealand ahead of their own Rugby Championship finale against Argentina later in the day at King’s Park in Durban.
South Africa are level with New Zealand on 14 points at the top of the table, and an All Black bonus-point win would leave them with a mountain to climb.
New Zealand have a +41 points difference and the Boks +28, but the South Africans will at least know what is needed to clinch the trophy ahead of time.
“We’re definitely going to watch the morning (South Africa time) game, we need to know what happens in that match so that we know what we need to do against Argentina, and the same applies to them,” South Africa captain Siya Kolisi told reporters on Friday.
“As things stand all four teams can still win the competition, but regardless of what happens in the match between Australia and New Zealand, it will still be a proper final for us and the Pumas.”
Reuters
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