‘Not happy with losing’: Valiant Wallabies lose Bledisloe Cup thriller
The Wallabies have added a fresh Bledisloe Cup heartbreak to their lengthy list, throwing away a 14-point half-time lead to lose 23-20 to New Zealand in Dunedin.
Marika Koroibete and Tom Hooper scored tries in the opening six minutes as Australia dared to dream of a hoodoo-snapping result.
Instead, the same old story – told now for 29 matches and 22 years against the All Blacks in New Zealand – prevailed.
Debutants Shaun Stevenson and Samipeni Finau scored second-half tries, and with just 60 seconds remaining, Richie Mo’unga kicked a penalty to settle the contest.
The result was a much-improved showing from the Wallabies after last weekend’s 38-7 drubbing at the MCG.
However, the outcome was ultimately the same and leaves the Wallabies with an 0-4 record as they head to France for a World Cup just five weeks away.
“Obviously gutted. We’d put ourselves in a position to win it,” captain Tate McDermott said.
“Obviously not happy with losing but from where we were last week to where we are now, a massive step up.”
The Wallabies entered the contest as the seventh-least experienced team in the last three decades, and lost more experience still before the first whistle.
Jordan Uelese was ruled out with a knee injury after teamsheets were listed, with Reds hooker Matt Faessler called up for a Wallabies debut.
Despite their freshness, the Wallabies jumped from the blocks, with Koroibete scoring a third-minute try to set the tone.
Hooper joined him on the scoreboard three minutes later, bulldozing Damian McKenzie for a two-try lead.
Carter Gordon, who wore plenty of criticism for his kicking in the Bledisloe Cup opener, kicked truly with two conversions from the sideline to have the score at 14-0.
The Wallabies were in dreamland, holding out the All Blacks until the break for a 17-3 lead, their first half-time advantage against New Zealand in four years.
It would have been even bleaker for the All Blacks if not for Ardie Savea, who held up McDermott after the flyhalf darted over the line.
Making 12 changes from the Bledisloe Cup opener, New Zealand were unbelievably sloppy, giving away the ball at the scrum and line-outs, missing tackles and dropping catches.
A team befitting the famous black shirt emerged for the second half and Stevenson scored their first try in the 43rd minute, racing onto McKenzie’s long lofted pass.
With half an hour to go, Mo’unga, Aaron Smith and Dane Coles – 252 caps between them – came on and the match was reset as a contest.
Leicester Fainga’anuku thought he’d scored in the 55th minute only for a TMO review to show he’d dropped the ball.
The Wallabies took their turn at blowing easy points soon after when Gordon missed a simple penalty kick, and the All Blacks made him pay.
Playing more directly, Finau barged through under the posts and the Wallabies had lost their lead after an hour in front.
Still, there was life in the contest.
The loudest noise of the afternoon came from Quade Cooper’s introduction, and they booed louder still when his penalty tied the contest at 20-20 with seven minutes left.
The 28,265-strong crowd cheered even more when Cooper knocked on in the 77th minute, before the afternoon’s defining play.
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to comments