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:
TRY! New Zealand 40-14 Australia
80 mins - Lineout sets up the driving maul. Bell’s carry takes them to a couple of metres out and it’s spread left where Koroibete comes back inside with a powerful carry.
On the 10th phase Jordan Petaia comes hard on crash ball and bursts over the line. Late consolation for Australia. Conversion easily added from bang in front
New Zealand 40-7 Australia
79 mins - Solid All Black defence, keeping Australia at arm’s length although they play the ball on the ground. Kick to the corner and Australia can have the last word at least. A lineout just outside of five metres.
New Zealand 40-7 Australia
78 mins - The All Blacks have played well but Australia have been desperately poor. The architects of their own downfall at times.
Final stages at Eden Park. Decent runs by Hodge and Wright take the Wallabies up to halfway.
PENALTY! New Zealand 40-7 Australia
76 mins - The All Blacks earn another penalty, in front of the posts and about five metres outside the 22. No problem for Richie Mo’unga, who slots it. 40 up for the All Blacks
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
75 mins - New Zealand flip the field with a series of carries in the blink of an eye. Caleb Clarke puts Tom Wright on the grass with a brutal carry, nifty footwork by Savea and Jordie Barrett then punches into the Wallabies 22.
Australia steal it and Petaia into touch. It’s definitely got scrappier as the match has gone on but it’s entertaining stuff
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
74 mins - Into the All Black 22 and Pete Samu carries off the back of the lineout, taking them inside five metres. Oh dear, turned over, Sevu Reece jackaling the ball and the All Blacks can build from deep.
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
72 mins - OOOOOF! Huge hit by Sevu Reece on Reece Hodge - an absolute crash of bodies. Hodge does well to retain possession and the Wallabies win a penalty shortly after but miss touch with the kick.
This has become very stop-start. When Australia win another penalty, they do find touch this time.
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
70 mins - Poor basic skills by the Wallabies as Foley knocks on in a Jordie Barrett tackle to see their platform evaporate.
The scrum on halfway is won but Mo’unga’s slightly aimless kick is collected by Hodge who booms a response into All Black territory
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
69 mins - A rare bit of Wallabies success at the scrum as they battle hard and win the penalty. A big clearance kick and they’ll have a lineout near halfway
New Zealand 37-7 Australia
67 mins - A foot-race as the All Blacks kick through but the Wallabies defence just about covers and gets to the ball first in the in-goal area.
Koroibete deemed to knock on in the process though, so it’s an All Blacks scrum five metres out. They’ve completely dominated at scrum-time today
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