Bledisloe reality check: Kiwis crush Wallabies to retain Cup

The Wallabies copped a brutal reality check with New Zealand crushing Australia's hopes of ending their 17-year Bledisloe Cup hoodoo at Eden Park.

Reece Hodge celebrates a try in last week's win over the All Blacks. Picture: Getty Images

On and on and on it goes.

When will it end? Nobody knows.

Australia’s hopes of winning the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 17 years was mercilessly crushed by a black avalanche burying any notion New Zealand is a spent force.

The 36-0 victory was the second biggest loss Australia has suffered to the Kiwis, and the first time they’ve been held scoreless since 2012.

The Bledisloe streak will extend to an 18th year, old enough to drink, and Aussies will need a few after observing one of the worst physical batterings sustained by any Wallaby team.

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The Wallabies were completely outplayed at Eden Park.

We made the mistake of thinking the All Blacks were vulnerable, somehow in danger of losing their iron grip on a trophy that will probably return to our shores when the writing on it has worn off.

They were ferocious, wounded animals snarling and biting hard with their shoulders.

Some of their tackles would have put holes in brick walls. Instead, it was the internal organs of the Wallabies that bore their brunt.

The All Blacks had to make a statement and it was this: We are the best, and if you doubt us, we will bash you until you come to your senses.

Five tries to nil.

WORLD CUP WORRIES

There are obvious issues that Australia must fix if they’re any chance of going deep in the World Cup.

The first is consistency.

The Wallabies scored 47 points last week in Perth, and couldn’t score one here in Auckland.

They were smashed in the tackle, at the ruck, at the scrum, wherever the game was played.

This was complete annihilation, and the joys of beating a 14-man side last week has turned to more questions about the ability of Australia to produce anything nearing consistency.

It was virtually the same side, but it was a different team.

Five-eighth Christian Lealiifano was hooked in the 47th minute for Matt Toomua.

He was playing behind forwards who a week ago laid him a platform, and on Saturday went backwards.

Sevu Reece scored a Bledisloe classic

SAME OLD STORY

The rules never change against the All Blacks. If you’re down in their quarter, get points.

Lealiifano hit the post with his first penalty attempt in the 18th minute, after Australia had narrowly missed scoring a try when Sevu Reece pulled off a desperate tackle on Marika Koroibete.

The Wallabies then hammered New Zealand’s line with charge after charge for two minutes, but the black well held firm until referee Jaco Peyper pinged them for offside.

Lealiifano’s next penalty kick sailed wide of the upright in the 23rd minute.

And inevitably, the All Blacks were 17-0 ahead less than 10 minutes later.

Australia attempted to shift the ball wide but Kurtley Beale’s pass under pressure was behind Reece Hodge, whose outstretched hand failed to grasp the ball and five-eighth Richie Mo’unga scooped it on the bounce, racing 50 metres to score in the 29th.

Three minutes later, a weak clearing kick was fielded by Beauden Barrett, who glided left and threw a perfectly-time pass to winger George Bridge 40 metres out.

Bridge sliced between Hodge and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto then found Aaron Smith backing up inside, and the halfback scored the second try.

Just like that, a contest that had been even-balanced was beyond Australia’s reach.

Bledisloe champions.

EDEN PARK HOODOO

Signs were ominous early when Lealiifano’s miscued his kickoff, and then moments later the Wallabies’ scrum was marched backwards, allowing Mo’unga to kick the opening penalty in the fourth minute.

The All Blacks have only lost 10 games in 100 years at the ground.

They’ve not lost here since 1994, and not to Australia since 1986.

Beating New Zealand here remains the most difficult task in world sport.

Kerevi was the Wallabies best.

SCRUM DOMINATED

Twice, the Wallabies’ scrum was penalized despite having eight on seven, after hooker Dane Coles was sin-binned attacking Nic White without the ball.

At the end of the first half, the All Blacks used a seven-man scrum to shove backwards Australia’s eight-man pack.

Then at the start of the second, Peyper penalized Scott Sio for boring in under pressure.

This will be an area Wales target in the World Cup pool match.

SENIORS STAND UP

Too old, too slow?

Not a chance.

Sonny Bill Williams, 34, booked his ticket for the World Cup with a vintage display of power.

The centre was hungry for collisions and pulled off some punishing tackles, while charging in midfield, icing his performance with a try over the top of rival Samu Kerevi and lock Izack Rodda.

Kieran Read was a beast in the tight. This was his best game in a long while.

So too halfback Aaron Smith, whose precise kicking kept turning Australia around, while his enthusiasm to back up for a try showed he’s lost none of his competitive edge.

Australia must now rediscover theirs.

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