All Blacks thump Wallabies, lock Bledisloe Cup away for 19th straight year
The All Blacks have opened the 2021 Rugby Championship with a second successive victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park to lock the Bledisloe Cup away for a 19th straight year.
Under pressure to produce a more polished performance after their sloppy and ill-disciplined start and end to last week’s victory over the Australians at the same ground, the Kiwis proved far too classy for the Wallabies, who had their moments throughout the encounter, in a 57-22 victory.
The opening 10 minutes of the contest proved to be far more entertaining than last week, as both sides scored early on.
All Blacks midfielder Rieko Ioane was the first to go over when he picked off a Noah Lolesio skip pass well inside his own half and boosted downfield to score in the fourth minute, but the Wallabies hit back via Andrew Kellaway just four minutes later.
Kellaway had drawn many headlines leading into the clash for his claim that the All Blacks’ “aura has worn off a bit”, and the rookie wing did his best to back up his talk by walking the walk.
Damian McKenzie was the main victim of Kellaway’s early exploits, as the four-test Australian hammered him in one of the game’s opening sequences before the diminutive All Blacks fullback slipped off a tackle far too easily to allow Kellaway to waltz in for his second try in as many weeks.
Kellaway’s try came as the Wallabies built plenty of continuity with ball in hand to put the hosts under pressure, but they couldn’t sustain it as the All Blacks were next to add to the scoreboard.
Wallabies No 8 Rob Valetini was caught in no man’s land when Ioane fired a pass out wide to his brother Akira, who charged up the left edge before fooling Kellaway with a dummy to enter Australian territory.
A draw and pass to McKenzie was followed by a quick ball out to the supporting Brodie Retallick, who strolled on in for his side’s second try.
After regathering themselves, the Wallabies mounted a lot of pressure on the New Zealanders, who were forced into conceding penalty after penalty, but Australia still couldn’t crack the defensive line, so instead opted for a penalty goal, which Lolesio duly slotted to cut the lead to six points after half an hour.
The All Blacks hit back immediately, though, as Ardie Savea crashed over from short range after a wayward Lolesio bomb kick from inside his 22 went straight down the throat of Richie Mo’unga, who instigated the counter-attack that Savea scored from.
A lovely sniping run by Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott from the base of a scrum five metres shy of the opposition line ensured the Australians only trailed by six points at the half-time break, but the floodgates opened as the second half kicked-off.
BREAKING: Boks forced into late change. #RugbyChampionshiphttps://t.co/D4Pv9JT0sh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2021
Not even a yellow card to Savea in the 42nd minute could stop the All Blacks from running riot, as a heads up play by halfback Aaron Smith caught the Wallabies napping five minutes into Savea’s sin binning.
Scooting through a gap in the Australian defensive line close to the breakdown, the 101-test veteran then fed the ball to the Codie Taylor on his inside shoulder to allow the hooker to run in under the posts.
Just after Savea returned to the fray, McKenzie proved his worth as a long-range goal-kicker, as he just landed a penalty from 58 metres to push the All Blacks beyond a double converted try lead.
With that sense of security, the All Blacks seemed to afford themselves more freedom in their play, as Sevu Reece picked off another Wallabies pass, this time from Matt To’omua, to scamper in for a try right after McKenzie’s penalty.
From there, it was virtually all one way traffic: Taylor snuck over for a second try from close range in the 61st minute, Will Jordan scored his 10th try in just his sixth test after Savea barged his way up the middle of the park four minutes later, and David Havili slid over three minutes into injury time.
That was enough to notch the half century mark for the Kiwis, although the Wallabies did cross for a consolation try as Kellaway, among Australia’s best players, dotted down for his second try of the match.
Sir Colin Meads and Brodie Retallick have been named as the greatest All Blacks locks of all-time by a panel of rugby experts and the Kiwi public. #AllBlacks https://t.co/v7rpLc6xkJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2021
Joining Kellaway as one of the best in green and gold jerseys was fellow wing Marika Koroibete, who returned to the team after a one-match stand down for a late night drinking session, but neither could deny the All Blacks an emphatic runaway victory.
As was the case last week, lineout throwing, among other things, proved to be costly for Dave Rennie’s side, and much improvements will need to be made if they are to avoid a Bledisloe Cup clean sweep in Perth in two weeks’ time.
For Ian Foster’s side, the Ioane brothers, Savea and Smith all stood out in a performance that should go some way to silencing their critics after last week’s outing.
The return of TJ Perenara off the bench will also be pleasing for Foster and his assistants as they prepare to embark on what could be a lengthy stay away from home amid Covid-19 and travel restriction uncertainty.
With the Bledisloe Cup safely stowed away, the All Blacks have also moved to the summit of the Rugby Championship table, and the pressure will now go on the Springboks to match New Zealand’s efforts against Los Pumas in Port Elizabeth overnight.
All Blacks 57 (Tries to Rieko Ioane, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor (2), Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and David Havili; 5 conversions to Richie Mo’unga, 2 conversions to Beauden Barrett, penalty to Damian McKenzie)
Wallabies 22 (Tries to Andrew Kellaway (2) and Tate McDermott; 2 conversions and penalty to Noah Lolesio)
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments