New Zealand beat Australia 43-21 at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Saturday, stretching their winning run over the Wallabies to 13 Tests. Beauden Barrett and Josh Moorby both scored twice as the All Blacks ran in seven tries to the hosts’ three.
The result underlined the gap between the two sides after New Zealand thrashed Australia 50-19 in Auckland last week, a win that ensured they retained the Bledisloe Cup. New Zealand led 36-7 at half-time before the Wallabies rallied to limit the damage in front of a packed crowd of 73,399.
Early tries put the All Blacks in control
The match started at a furious tempo, with the All Blacks facing intense early pressure. New Zealand had already been dealt a blow before kickoff when Jordie Barrett was ruled out injured. The visitors soaked up the pressure and launched their own attack, which ended with Moorby wrong-footing two defenders.
Beauden Barrett crossed again five minutes later in the corner. Two minutes after that it was 17-0, with flanker Peter Lakai in support after Damian McKenzie exploded through the middle. Rieko Ioane then drove over wide, using his pace and power, after Australia lost a lineout.
Jeremy Williams pulled a try back for Australia, but he was then sent to the sin bin for being offside, and New Zealand exploited the extra man. Wallace Sititi scored from the scrum seconds later, and Beauden Barrett bagged his second after an intercept and a 75-metre run.
Australia rally after the interval
Moorby was again among the scorers as the second half began, finishing after a devastating counter-attack by dummying brilliantly in the corner. Coach Les Kiss refreshed his forward pack, and Australia began to get back into the contest. Winger Tom Wright scored a second Australian try after good work from Max Jorgensen.
The game turned frantic as the Wallabies found momentum. Substitute Filipo Daugunu weaved past a tiring New Zealand side, which played the last 10 minutes with a man down and the final five with two fewer players.
Captains and coaches weigh up what comes next
New Zealand captain Codie Taylor said: “I’m really proud of the boys, the way we came out in that first-half.” He added that the side had faced a real challenge in backing up the previous week’s performance, and said the team was “awesome” in the first 40 minutes. “But that second 40 was a bit different.”
Australia skipper Harry Wilson was blunt after another heavy defeat. “I’m gutted. When you give a team like the All Blacks that head start, it’s tough,” he said. He added: “It’s not good enough from this group, we’ve got to be a lot better.”
The last time Australia beat New Zealand was in Brisbane in 2020, when current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie was in charge of the Wallabies. The same Sydney venue will host the teams for a Rugby World Cup pool match in a year’s time, and Kiss has plenty to do before then if he wants to turn the tables. Both sides now head to Europe to conclude the Nations Championship, with Kiss and Rennie facing tough calls on who to take as the World Cup build-up gathers pace.
