The Wallabies have thrashed the All Blacks by 21 points in one of the great Australian performances
With a little over one month until the World Cup, the Wallabies are suddenly looking a real contender after turning in a scintillating performance to demolish the All Blacks in Perth.
The Wallabies’ long suffering fans can start believing again that the Bledisloe Cup — and maybe even the World Cup — could soon be coming home after a record breaking performance last night.
In defiance of all the gloomy pre-match predictions, Michael Cheika’s Australians hammered New Zealand 47-26 in a front of a massive crowd of 61,241 at Optus Stadium to offer fresh hope that better times are ahead after 12 months of misery, littered with embarrassing losses and the division over Israel Folau’s exit from the game.
But that was all forgotten on Saturday night as the Wallabies posted the highest score any team has every racked up against the All Blacks, who are badly out of form and out of luck with the World Cup starting in Japan next month.
New Zealand played the entire second half a man down after Scott Barrett was sent off just before the interval so the Wallabies won’t be popping the champagne corks just yet but even before he was marched, the Wallabies were on top and looking better than they have in years and fully served their win.
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DISCIPLINE
For everyone who loves their rugby played hard, the red card that was handed to Barrett was a blight on the modern game. His ‘crime’ was to lead with his shoulder into a tackle on the Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.
It looked harmless enough but under the letter of the law, the referee Jerome Garces had no alternative other than to show him red, making Barrett just the fourth All Black to be sent off in a Test, and the first since Sonny Bill Williams against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
As much as the old timers hate the softening up of the game, Barrett’s send off was a clear reminder of how important discipline will be at the World Cup.
CHEIKA MASTERSTROKE
It took James O’Connor just 10 minutes to validate Michael Cheika’s shock decision to pick him at outside centre.
What seemed like an act of desperation from a coach trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, now looks like a masterstroke that could pay off big at the World Cup. Although he’s been off the international scene for years and has never started a Test in the No. 13 jersey, O’Connor’s always had a touch of X-factor about him and that’s exactly what he brought to the table.
His inside pass that set up Reece Hodge’s long-range try was a stroke of genius that will ensure he’s on the plane to Japan while his versatility, switching between the centres and five-eighth, added a new dimension to the attack.Halfback Nic White was also brilliant, justifying his selection ahead of Will Genia.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
FOR all their good work in attack, especially in the second half, the Wallabies will have to be a lot more clinical if they are serious about wanting to win back the Bledisloe Cup in Auckland next weekend, let alone win the World Cup.
They created some clear chances in the first half when they split the New Zealand defence but failed to capitalise, because of players, including old heads such as Kurtley Beale, Samu Kerevi and Christisan Lealiifano, either hanging on to the ball too long or just not linking up with their support play.
SMART DECISIONS
ANOTHER great sign for long suffering Wallabies fans was that Michael Hooper has finally learnt his lesson about taking points when they’re on offer.
While his instinct to want to attack at every opportunity is noble, his decision to spurn easy kicks at goal has cost the Wallabies victories in the past, there was a collective sense of relief last night each time he pointed to the posts and handed the ball to Lealiifano to bang over three penalties that kept the scoreboard pressure on.
Scores: Australia 47 (Reece Hodge 2, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, Lukhan Salakaia- Loto, Nic White tries; Christian Leali’ifano 2, Matt To’omua 2 conversions, Leali’ifano 3 penalties) def. New Zealand 26 (Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown tries; Richie Mo’unga 3 conversions). HT: 16-12.
Originally published as The Wallabies have thrashed the All Blacks by 21 points in one of the great Australian performances