MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Referee Mathieu Raynal speaks to Nic White and Bernard Foley of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Marvel Stadium on September 15, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup in a 39-37 thriller at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne but the result has come down to a single call in the final minute of the match.
The Wallabies and All Blacks went to the halftime break locked at 10-all before New Zealand kicked on to a 31-13 lead after 55 minutes.
But the Aussies showed mountains of heart to come back and hit the lead in the 77th minute with a long range Nic White penalty goal to take a 37-34 lead.
While the All Blacks retained the ball, it looked like it would be enough when the Aussies were handed a penalty with a minute left.
But referee Mathieu Raynal shocked everyone in the stadium when he called Bernard Foley for a delayed game, giving the All Blacks a scrum 5m.
This was despite the referee admitting the time was blown off.
"The time was off," Foley raged.
What the hell just happened? Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
After holding them out for a few phases, the All Blacks went wide, and fullback Jordie Barrett snatched the win for New Zealand.
It means New Zealand retain the famous trophy for the 20th straight year.
But the backlash was instantaneous.
Wallabies legend Tim Horan raged: "That is a ridiculous call from the referee. Bernard Foley was waiting to kick the ball out."
Nine commentator Sean Maloney replied: "Have you ever seen that? Have you ever seen it?"
Post-match, White went to try and asked the referee what was going on but he immediately left the park to a chorus of boos from the capacity crowd at Marvel Stadium.
Minutes after the game, Nine's Nick McArdle was still blown away: "Have you ever, have you ever seen the end of a Test match like that?"
Wallabies skipper James Slipper was distraught.
"Absolutely gutted, I don't know what to say," Slipper said. "We wanted to put in performance tonight and we just fell short there.
"Probably the most gutting way to finish a game, in my opinion."
The Bledisloe is going back to New Zealand. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Foley said the Wallabies were trying to understand the lineout call when the drama happened.
"The referee said time off, I think it's just disappointing how good a game that was and we're talking about the referee," he said.
Aussie coach Dave Rennie said he'd never seen anything like it to finish a game, particularly with the clock stopped, and said: "It lacks the bit of feeling for such an important moment in the game. You would have thought kick it out and let us play the last couple of minutes."
Nine commentator Allana Ferguson said it was "Pretty unfortunate and honestly one of the worst calls I've seen from the referee to take it away from them."
Former Wallaby Horan was blown away by the decision.
"It was crazy," Horan said.
"In 20 years of commentating, I thought it was a disgraceful decision by the referee and I thought he cracked under pressure.
"I reckon you could have another 15 referees, big referees of world rugby, that would have taken that calmly and wouldn't have got awed by the experience. 90 seconds left in the game and he cracked under pressure in one of the biggest games here in Australia.
"It was disgraceful decision and world rugby need to look at it."
Horan said he believed Raynal had a good game as referee but that he cracked under pressure in the last 90 seconds.
"If that happens in the World Cup semi-final, World Cup final, you never get another game," Horan added.
In his first Bledisloe Test, Jed Holloway was gracious in defeat.
"Super disappointed. Just like every Australian is here," Holloway said.
"The referee has a job to do," Holloway said.
"We were not good enough. Props to New Zealand. They are world class. We have to go back to the drawing board."
Crazy scenes in Melbourne. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Sky Sports New Zealand commentator Karl Te Nana even agreed it was a "shocking call".
Wallabies legend Morgan Turinui said the referee "stole the game" from the Wallabies.
"I think it's the most disgraceful decision I've seen," he said.
"The mechanics of the decision are completely wrong. No one knows if he's called time back on, there's no communication with the player. When the game is on the line, the Wallabies have won the game, you do not contrive the situation to cost the better team the game.
"If I'm (chairman) Hamish McLennan or (CEO) Andy Marinos at Rugby Australia, I'm on the phone right now to World Rugby right now.
"The bad thing is that Dave Rennie will probably get an apology on Monday morning, but that does not stop the fact that the Wallabies should be going to Eden Park next week with the opportunity to win the Bledisloe Cup.
"This is the best performance by the Wallabies against the All Blacks since 2003 semi-final and I thought the Wallabies were absolutely outstanding."
Social media exploded with reaction.
Wallabies legend Matt Giteau was heartbroken.
"A super contest arguably ruined by that last call.. I can’t believe that. congrats @AllBlacks & @wallabies on an unreal game! Such a cruel ending," he posted.
Former Australian treasure Joe Hockey tweeted: "Rugby will die if we keep refereeing games like the @wallabies and #allblacks game tonight. We cannot have the referees as the centre of attention. The rules and referees are not bigger than the game."
Nine commentator Peter Psaltis posted: "If ever you wanted to see an official decide the result of match…..there it is. Foley was in his kicking motion and the referee wanted to make himself the Centre of attention. Brave from the @wallabies in the 2nd half. Diabolical officiating."
We can bag the referee for that decision against @wallabies but just watch this replay and look at the teammates YELLING at Foley to hurry up and kick the ball #AUSvNZ@StanSportRugby The decision was ridiculous but .... pic.twitter.com/bbg98CTYJP
I thought VAR was ruining football. But the Bledisloe ref tonight literally ripped out the win from Wallabies hands and handed the @AllBlacks yet another Cup. #CRUEL and #UNUSUAL punishment.
It was a wild match throughout and not just on the scoreboard.
Fans debated the five yellow cards throughout the match, particularly when another tackle which appeared to go beyond the horizontal was deemed fair game.
The Wallabies and All Blacks will renew hostilities at Eden Park next Saturday night, a ground Australia last won at in 1986, and has only won four times in 33 games dating back to 1925.
Updates
'That is ridiculous': Wallabies stunned by Bledisloe robbery
Tupaea was injured in the play. Photo: Getty Images
The Wallabies have two men yellow carded after Darcy Swain was pinged for diving in at the legs of New Zealand's Quinn Tupaea.
"You cannot target the legs," referee Mathieu Raynal says.
"I thought the clean out was fine but you're attacking the leg of Quinn Tupaea," Tim Horan says.
"That's tough now for the Wallabies."
All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens said: "I'm OK with that. But I thought the clean-up was fine but it is this here where you are attacking the leg of Quinn Tupaea and safety paramount for professional as well as junior rugby players. That's tough now for the Wallabies."
It comes after Tom Wright was sin binned after a professional foul as he chased down Caleb Clarke on a break.
The Wallabies have been heroic and the All Blacks poor during the two-man advantage though as Jake Gordan stripped Samisoni Taukei'aho over the line, while the All Blacks looked to be away at least twice more, both times knocking on.
The Wallabies have accepted the challenge for the first Bledisloe Test, advancing on the haka.
Lined up in a boomerang formation the Wallabies advanced on the All Blacks behind captain James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa.
Coach Dave Rennie told SMH in 2020 the boomerang was developed to suck the air out of the haka.
“We came out with our boomerang formation because it is unique to us,” Rennie said. “The boys aren’t linked and we have split feet because it’s a stronger position. If you got pushed with your feet together, you’d fall over. When the All Blacks do the haka, they’ll have split feet. We’re standing, rather than linked, arms by our side. We’re ready to fight and accept the challenge.
“The idea with the boomerang is that we throw the boomerang out, it hovers above them, mincing up their words, then comes back and brings back an energy to us. It’ll have more meaning with the Indigenous jersey.”
SMH's Tom Decent tweeted: "Spicy! Wallabies walk up to halfway line during haka. Breakaway when it's finished. Alaalatoa couldn't have walked away quicker. This was Rennie in 2020 for some context."
Haka and the Aussies moving forward in the V formation. C’mon boys, fire up!! #BledisloeCup
They were great scenes – and then the game started.
The Wallabies dropped the opening kickoff and the All Blacks mauled over the line for a try to Samisoni Taukei'aho in the third minute.
New Zealand have also kicked a field goal and lead 10-0 after 11 minutes.
Bledisloe bloodbath as Wallabies swing axe
Veteran fly-half Bernard Foley will start a Wallabies Test for the first time since the 2019 World Cup after getting the nod Tuesday among eight changes to face the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship this week.
The 33-year-old Foley, who plays in Japan, was handed another chance with Noah Lolesio ruled out with concussion, Quade Cooper sidelined with a season-ending injury and James O’Connor axed.
Foley will don the No.10 shirt for his 72nd Test at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium on Thursday — which doubles as the first Bledisloe Cup match — despite not seeing action since his Kubota Spears side last played in May.
“It’s great to have Bernard’s experience and he brings plenty of voice and passion for the gold jersey,” coach Dave Rennie said.
“New Zealand showed their class in a massive win over Argentina last week and will come to Melbourne full of confidence.”
It's a new look Wallabies team for the game. Photo: Getty Images
The final two rounds of matches will determine the fate of the Rugby Championship, with just one point separating the table-topping All Blacks from Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Foley was among eight changes Rennie made to the starting side after their deflating 28-8 loss to South Africa 10 days ago and will partner Jake Gordon in the halves in place of Nic White.
Versatile Jed Holloway starts at lock for the first time in his Test career, in place of Rory Arnold, who is unavailable for personal reasons, partnering Matt Philip in the second row.
Rob Leota returns as starting blindside flanker while Pete Samu earns his first start of the 2022 campaign at openside and Rob Valetini is at No.8.
Lalakai Foketi was brought in at inside centre to replace Hunter Paisami, who also suffered concussion against the Springboks, while Andrew Kellaway was preferred at fullback to Reece Hodge, who drops to the bench.
David Porecki starts at hooker with Folau Fainga’a benched.
Australia (15-1): Andrew Kellaway; Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon; Rob Valetini, Pete Samu, Rob Leota; Matt Philip, Jed Holloway; Allan Alaalatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper (capt) Replacements: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Pone Fa’amausili, Darcy Swain, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia
