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Match Highlights - Four-try Barrett makes history as rampant All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup
Beauden Barrett became the first New Zealand player to score four tries against Australia as the world champions retained the Bledisloe Cup in style with a 40-12 drubbing at fortress Eden Park.
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Barrett was instrumental when the All Blacks ran riot in the second half to beat the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend and the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year made history with another masterclass in Auckland on Saturday.
The outstanding fly-half claimed a first-half double and another two tries after the break, also scoring 10 points from the tee to finish with a tally of 30 as Australia were blown away.
Joe Moody and Liam Squire also went over for Steve Hansen’s domineering side, who are unbeaten at Eden Park in 42 Tests and have now won 14 consecutive Rugby Championship matches.
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Will Genia and Reece Hodge crossed for an Australia side that trailed 14-7 at half-time before New Zealand ran away with it, Barrett taking centre stage in Owen Franks’ 100th Test as he became the fourth All Black to score 500 points for his country.
New Zealand’s Bledisloe Cup triumph is their 16th in a row and they were in a class of their own to put more pressure on Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika.
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Barrett was in the thick of the action from the start, darting through a gap to go under the posts 13 minutes in after taking an inviting pass from Aaron Smith.
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Both sides showed their intent to play expansive rugby in a typically frantic encounter and the Wallabies were level after Dane Haylett-Petty’s clever kick opened up the world champions.
Desperate defending prevented Kurtley Beale from going over, but Australia were rewarded for their patience when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Genia nipped in to touch down from the back of a scrum that finally stayed up following another two penalties.
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New Zealand took that setback on the chin and gave yet another demonstration of why they are the best team in the world with a devastating break to regain the lead before the interval.
Ben Smith burst away and exchanged passes with prop Codie Taylor, who found himself out on the wing, and although Jack Goodhue was taken down just short of the line, Barrett was on hand to cross again after the All Blacks got quick ball at the breakdown two minutes before the break.
A very special moment for Owen Franks as @kevenmealamu presents him with his cap for playing 💯Tests.#NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/tFZJbYsomT
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 25, 2018
Just as they did in the first Test, Hansen’s men carried their momentum into the second half, prop Moody powering his way through Genia to finish following a series of pick and drives.
The rampant All Blacks were hungry to inflict more damage on their trans-Tasman rivals and Squire took a pass from Brodie Retallick to go under the posts five minutes later.
A brilliant last-ditch tackle from Bernard Foley denied Jordie Barrett from finishing another slick move before Sam Cane went off for a head injury assessment.
Australia came up with a well-worked second try to give themselves hope, Hodge finishing after an incisive break from Foley, whose conversion attempt struck the post.
However, normal service was resumed when Barrett produced a moment of magic to raise the roof, surging away from 50 metres out with blistering pace to complete his treble with a sublime solo try.
Barrett had a fourth try ruled out due to a knock-on, but the incredible number 10 broke the record soon after, stepping inside Marika Koroibete and touching down in the corner to round off another rapid counter-attack.
Waisake Naholo also had a try chalked off late on in another emphatic victory for the All Blacks, with Australia left to reflect on a fourth loss on the spin.
Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to comments