Caleb Clarke the star as All Blacks bounce back with big win over Wallabies in Auckland
All Blacks 27
Wallabies 7
The All Blacks have taken a big step towards retaining the Bledisloe Cup with a victory over the Wallabies at their fortress Eden Park during which wing Caleb Clarke announced himself on the world stage.
The 27-7 victory will be seen as a redemption from last week’s mainly tepid performance in a 16-16 draw in Wellington but the Wallabies were just as obdurate and hard to shift here a week later until a blockbusting run from Clarke, who beat five defenders and set up Ardie Savea’s try, knocked the stuffing out of them.
It was the sort of run reminiscent of Jonah Lomu in his prime and the anticipation among the crowd was palpable every time the 21-year-old received the ball.
The charge which set up Savea’s try will feature in highlight reels for a long time and his proud father Eroni, a former Blues and All Blacks midfielder, could only smile and shrug his shoulders for the cameras while he sat and watched in the crowd of more than 45,000.
The Wallabies, desperate to respond, went extremely close via left wing Marika Koroibete, who was held up in the corner, and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, whose try was ruled out for a double movement.
By then the damage was done. Sam Cane’s converted try after an excellent run from Patrick Tuipulotu meant there was no way back for Dave Rennie’s men, who will have to win the next two Bledisloe Cup tests in Brisbane and Sydney starting on October 31 to win a trophy they haven’t held in almost 20 years.
Clarke, in his first test start after impressing off the bench last weekend, received a standing ovation when he limped from the field in the 68th minute, star in the ascendent and presumably a fixture in the No 11 jersey for the foreseeable future.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster had got the response he had wanted in terms of physicality, and apart from a couple of wobbles his team’s set piece was superior.
But, while that scrum advantage and a run from Jack Goodhue, who went straight through James O’Connor, a carry which led to their first try from short range via Aaron Smith, put them on the front foot, the Wallabies were again conceding nothing.
The charge which set up Savea’s try will feature in highlight reels for a long time and his proud father Eroni, a former Blues and All Blacks midfielder, could only smile and shrug his shoulders for the cameras while he sat and watched in the crowd of more than 45,000.
The Wallabies, desperate to respond, went extremely close via left wing Marika Koroibete, who was held up in the corner, and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, whose try was ruled out for a double movement.
By then the damage was done. Sam Cane’s converted try after an excellent run from Patrick Tuipulotu meant there was no way back for Dave Rennie’s men, who will have to win the next two Bledisloe Cup tests in Brisbane and Sydney starting on October 31 to win a trophy they haven’t held in almost 20 years.
Clarke, in his first test start after impressing off the bench last weekend, received a standing ovation when he limped from the field in the 68th minute, star in the ascendent and presumably a fixture in the No 11 jersey for the foreseeable future.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster had got the response he had wanted in terms of physicality, and apart from a couple of wobbles his team’s set piece was superior.
But, while that scrum advantage and a run from Jack Goodhue, who went straight through James O’Connor, a carry which led to their first try from short range via Aaron Smith, put them on the front foot, the Wallabies were again conceding nothing.
They were missing the injured Sam Whitelock and Rieko Ioane, while Hodgman and midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen celebrated debuts. Blindside flanker Shannon Frizell played perhaps his best test and there were genuinely good impacts off the reserves bench from the returning Scott Barrett, halfback TJ Perenara, loose forward Hoskins Sotutu and Clarke’s replacement Damian McKenzie.
None is likely to be as pleased as young Caleb Clarke, however; a No11 on the move in a big way. His interventions were a big reason why the All Blacks retained their winning record at Eden Park which dates back to 1994, and why the Wallabies couldn’t beat a hoodoo which dates back to 1986.
“Just too excited I think,” said hooker Dane Coles to referee Angus Gardner after scrapping with Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou when the match was barely three minutes old.
As Foster reflects on his first win as head coach and Clarke on his magical hour and eight minutes in front of his friends and family, it’s a sentiment that will be shared by many All Blacks supporters who just witnessed a new global star.
All Blacks 27 (Aaron Smith, Jordie Barrett, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane tries; Richie Mo’unga pen, 2 cons)
Wallabies 7 (Marika Koroibete try; James O’Connor con)
Halftime: 10-7
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments