Rugby news: Same old story for woeful Wallabies as All Blacks claim 21st straight Bledisloe Cup win

The Wallabies have come up short yet again, in an all too familiar performance that will give no hope to their long-suffering fans, writes Jamie Panadarm.

It was the same old story for the Wallabies, as errors, ill-discipline and missed tackles cost them against the All Blacks. Picture: Getty Images.

Don’t blame the injury to Allan Alaalatoa.

Or even the injury to Taniela Tupou.

And certainly don’t blame Angus Bell, who single-handedly carried his team throughout.

The Wallabies’ defeat came down to the same factors that always cost them; errors, discipline and missed tackles.

The script hasn’t changed.

The Bledisloe Cup won’t be changing hands.

The economy of New Zealand won’t be crumbling.

New Zealand hold the trophy for a 21st consecutive year.

And Eddie Jones has as more headaches now than when he decided to take up the coaching job.

Alaalatoa’s likely absence from the World Cup with an Achilles injury is a devastating blow that will be a huge factor in the pool games against Wales and Fiji.

It was the same old story for the Wallabies, as errors, ill-discipline and missed tackles cost them against the All Blacks. Picture: Getty Images.

Tupou, his back-up, faces an anxious recovery after leaving the field with what seemed a rib injury.

But the All Blacks’ comfortable 38-7 win came off – what else – Australia’s ill-discipline.

Four of their tries came while the Wallabies had a man in the sin-bin.

Tupou’s retrospective yellow card after already leaving the field midway through the second half – for a blatant shoulder to the head of Nepo Laulala – saw replacement Kiwi winger Caleb Clarke score a try moments later.

Mark Telea and Rieko Ioane crossed in the opposite corner within a minute of each other with Australia still a man down

Earlier, Marika Koroibete’s sin-binning in the 26th minute led to New Zealand’s second try.

Koroibete’s absence could not directly be blamed for the rolling maul try to Codie Taylor eight minutes later, however the All Blacks did manage to get downfield because of an earlier break when the backline was stretched.

The Achilles injury to Allan Alaalatoa is no excuse for the Wallabies, but his likely absence for the World Cup will be a devastating blow. Picture: Getty Images.

There were flashes of what this Wallabies team could be under Jones.

Bell, Will Skelton, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Rob Valetini were at times world-class forces – Bell for most of the game in a brilliant performance.

But there are still questions over the halves and other combinations.

Five-eighth Carter Gordon ran and passed well, but his kicking was poor. He came up short with a kick restart, and put bombs up that barely went forward, gifting the All Blacks key possession.

It wasn’t helped by simple misses in defence.

Valetini’s converted first half try was the lone score for the home side at the MCG.

That was not without chances. Australia had loads of possession in fine territory, but either turned the ball over or blundered it away. Typical of the team over the past decade.

Marika Koroibete spent time on the sidelines after receving a yellow card. Picture: Getty Images.

The bludgeoning hit on Tate McDermott by Scott Barrett in the fourth minute, dislodging the ball on his line allowing Shannon Frizell to score the opening try, was a lesson in speed and intent.

They did not relent until the final bell, and had they not made an unusually high amount of errors, the scoreline would have been worse.

There will be much talk this week about the steps forward the Wallabies have taken from their opening two defeats against South Africa and Argentina.

Their lineout and breakdown was, indeed much improved.

But at the end of the day, they lost by 31 points.

And the same old areas that need fixing, haven’t been fixed.

Originally published as Rugby news: Same old story for woeful Wallabies as All Blacks claim 21st straight Bledisloe Cup win