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All Blacks edge Wallabies in match dubbed 'game of the century'
Beauden Barrett broke Australia hearts with a last-gasp try as New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup by winning a thriller 35-29 at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
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Critics rounded on the Wallabies after they were put to the sword in the first half of the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney last weekend and they responded with a rousing start under the roof in Dunedin.
Israel Folau scored the first try of a chaotic clash inside 30 seconds and Michael Cheika’s men led 17-0 with only 15 minutes played following further scores from captain Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley.
The All Blacks hit back, reducing the deficit to only three points at half-time courtesy of tries from Rieko Ioane – his sixth in as many Tests – and the lively Aaron Smith.
A Barrett try put the world champions in front midway through the second half, but Will Genia went over at the other end and Kurtley Beale looked to have won it with a fifth Australia try three minutes from time after Ben Smith went over in his final Test before taking a sabbatical.
The brilliant Barrett snatched it a minute from time, helping himself to a double to take his tally for the night to 20 points, four missed kicks from Foley proving to be decisive as New Zealand won the Bledisloe Cup for the 15th consecutive year.
The #BledisloeCup stays in New Zealand for another year. #NZLvAUS ??? pic.twitter.com/PggPSDw3RE
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 26, 2017
The Wallabies scored four tries in a spirited final quarter in Sydney after the damage had already been done and they came out firing a week later following a delayed kick-off and a minute’s silence for All Blacks great Colin Meads, who lost his battle with cancer last weekend.
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Folau set the tone by intercepting a Damian McKenzie pass to race 75 metres for the opening score in the first minute and skipper Hooper burst through a gap following a scrum for another 10 minutes later in a dream start for the Wallabies.
The ragged world champions were caught out again when Genia threw a dummy at the back of a scrum before passing to the inspirational Hooper, who fed Foley for a third try.
Foley failed to convert for a second time, his effort striking the post, after referee Nigel Owens checked with the TMO that Genia had not knocked on.
The shell-shocked world champions regrouped and were on the board 22 minutes in when Ioane took a pass from Aaron Smith to go over, Barrett adding the extras.
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Foley was denied by the post again when he ought to have been on target with a penalty and the All Blacks were rewarded for an intense period of pressure when Aaron Smith side-stepped Hooper to go under the posts after Ben Smith had a try ruled out for a knock-on.
https://twitter.com/giteau_rugby/status/90138367340405145
The momentum was with New Zealand as they started the second half 17-14 down, but Brodie Retallick had a try chalked off as the TMO could not see any evidence of a grounding.
Barrett was cleared to return after a head injury assessment and showed he was not feeling the effects of a blow by diving over after making a run outside the sprightly Aaron Smith, who picked the ball up from behind a scrum to provide the assist.
The trusty Barrett made no mistake from the tee as the All Blacks hit the front for the first time, but they were behind again when the impressive Genia evaded three tackles to dot down 13 minutes from time.
Foley incredibly hit the woodwork for a third time with his attempted conversion and the Test swung back in New Zealand’s favour when Ben Smith signed off for his extended break by plucking a pass from McKenzie to score a try in his hometown following 22 phases from the rampant hosts.
Beale appeared to have given the Wallabies a first victory in seven against their Trans-Tasman after a short ball from Genia enabled him to scamper under the posts and Foley slotted over a simple conversion to make it 29-28 with time running out.
The All Blacks showed they can never be written off, though, winning the ball back from the kick-off before Barrett surged away to settle an epic contest after Kieran Read and TJ Perenara combined.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
83 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
1 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
20 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
83 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
83 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
20 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
83 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
83 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
20 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to comments