Shock at Suncorp: Wallabies stun All Blacks to claim famous win in heated Bledisloe Cup dead rubber
Drama, controversy, off the ball cheap shots, two red cards and a stunning Wallabies upset. This match had it all.
Suncorp Stadium has again proved a problematic venue for the All Blacks, with one win from their last five attempts at the Brisbane venue.
Seven days after suffering a 38-point defeat, their heaviest against the All Blacks, Dave Rennie’s Wallabies pulled off a remarkable reversal to hand Ian Foster the first defeat of his tenure thanks to a 76th minute Taniela Tupou try.
Australian referee Nic Berry, who struggled to control the match, dished out four cards – two red and two yellow – but the All Blacks will not look for excuses.
Scott Barrett’s yellow card for a cynical ruck infringement with 12 minutes left proved decisive, forcing the All Blacks to courageously contest much of the closing stages with 13 men.
Ardie Savea delivered an inspirational performance and it was his charge which led to a late Tupou Vaa’i try that gave the All Blacks hope, but in the end that ultimately proved a consolation effort.
Tuning in as a neutral observer you wouldn’t know the Bledisloe Cup was locked away by the All Blacks last week. This wasn’t exactly a great endorsement for playing by the rules, but it sure was a passionate contest.
Debut Wallabies wing Tom Wright and All Blacks opposite Rieko Ioane exchanged early tries but the fourth Bledisloe of the year then turned on its head when Ofa Tuungafasi became the fifth All Black to be red carded in a test, following Cyril Brownlie (1925), Sir Colin Meads (1967), Sonny Bill Williams (2017) and Scott Barrett (2019).
The Blues prop caught Wright, who was ducking into the tackle, with a shoulder to the head in the 23rd minute, and Berry believed there were no mitigating factors at play so flashed his first red card.
After the selectors’ decision to make 10 starting changes, including two positional, the All Blacks suddenly found themselves under immense pressure – in a completely different situation to their record victory in Sydney.
Prop Ofa Tuungafasi has become the fifth All Black to be sent off in a test match following a tackle which contacted the head in the fourth Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane. #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup https://t.co/GOnZCgCymJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2020
Unfortunately for Akira Ioane when the next scrum was packed his test debut ended after 30 minutes as Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax was needed to replace Tuungafasi. Ioane, to that point, was highly impressive with one strong carry, several telling defensive plays and one lineout steal.
Twelve minutes after Tuungafasi departed, Berry had no choice but to issue his second red to Wallabies flanker Lachie Swinton, who, likewise, caught the eye with damaging defence on debut, after he copped Sam Whitelock with his shoulder to the head.
Debate will rage about Berry’s decisions but, if nothing else, he was at least consistent with his two reds.
Despite dishing out 16 first-half penalties, 23 in total, Berry struggled to control the match as cheap shots off the ball and tempers regularly flared.
With the All Blacks hot on attack as halftime approached Berry reduced the Wallabies to 13 men by sending Marika Koroibete to the bin for repeated team infringements.
While the All Blacks drew level at 8-8 before the break through a Jordie Barrett penalty, they couldn’t capitalise on their advantage with Koroibete off the field.
Codie Taylor’s try from a lineout drive in the second half edged the All Blacks ahead and the expectation from there was they would maintain composure to close out the victory.
Instead, though, Reece Hodge calmly slotted penalties to push the Wallabies clear and then Auckland-schooled prop Tupou crashed over to deliver the final blow.
The victory is sure to breathe life back into Rennie’s Wallabies after such a deflating result last week.
While in difficult circumstances the All Blacks will be disappointed with some of their game management when the game was on the line, and the passive nature of their close in defensive work.
Foster should now have a much clearer picture of his first choice starting side.
All Blacks 22 (Rieko Ioane, Codie Taylor, Tupou Vaa’i tries; Jordie Barrett 2 cons, pen)
Wallabies 24 (Tom Wright, Taniela Tupou tries; Reece Hodge con, 4 pens)
HT: 8-8
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments