Recap: Wallabies vs All Blacks, second Test in Wellington
WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has slammed referee Romain Poite for “absolutely ignoring” approaches from Australian captain Stephen Moore.
Live: Wallabies v All Blacks
Welcome to our live coverage of the Wallabies vs All Blacks. Kick off in Wellington at 5:35pm (AEST). Australia will be looking for a miracle performance on Kiwi soil to level the series.
9:30pm
Cheika blasts Poite, ARU files rugby complaint
The ARU have filed a complaint to World Rugby over a meeting between All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and referee Romain Poite that was held on the eve of the second Bledisloe Cup Test without Australia’s knowledge.
It comes after coach Michael Cheika said he was left “bitterly disappointed” by Frenchman Poite’s control of Saturday night’s 29-9 defeat at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, ensuring the Bledisloe Cup will remain in New Zealand for a 14th consecutive year.
The Australian Rugby Union claims Hansen and one of his assistants met Poite for morning tea on Friday.
Under World Rugby regulations, coaches can meet referees before a match only if there are representatives from both teams present, or if one side declines the opportunity.
A similar controversy occurred during June’s three-Test series after England coach Eddie Jones also met Poite in Brisbane without an invitation being extended to the Australians.
Cheika blasted Poite for “absolutely ignoring” approaches from Australia captain Stephen Moore to seek clarification on decisions, and said the referee failed to stop the game when David Pocock was down and needed a concussion test.
“He has the whistle, I understand ... the referee might not like the captain personally, that might be his prerogative, but he has to afford him that opportunity if he’s affording it to his opponents,” Cheika said.
“I’m on record with referees boss Alain Rolland about the treatment to our captain and our players by Romain Poite and also by Nigel Owens.
“I don’t know if it’s subconscious or not but it’s there and it’s got to be dealt with, because that can’t be going on if the opponent can have every player discussing with the referee.
“If they’ve got a predetermined position on our players, I asked Alain Rolland in Sydney and he said, ‘Oh that’s a surprise to me if it is’, but it’s pretty blatant to anyone listening to the ref’s ears, I would say.” Meanwhile, All Blacks prop Owen Franks is expected to be cited for an attempted eye gouge on Kane Douglas in the first half. Video of the incident, which occurred in the seventh minute, circulated on social media during the match and Cheika said he saw it at the time.
“They couldn’t miss it, it was pretty in the open. It’d be pretty hard for the match review to miss,” he said.
— AAP
9:00pm
Debutant’s amazing 54m goal
Reece Hodge may have copped a beating with the Wallabies, but there’s one moment he can take away from his test debut with pride.
The 22-year-old easily slotted the ball through the goals from over the halway line in the 35th minute to add valuable points to the table.
Unfortunately, that was where the amazing Australian feats of the night ended.
The Wallabies were simlpy outclassed by a side flourishing on home soil with a hearty supporter base and striking momentum which carried over from last week’s clash in Sydney.
The spectacular feat got everyone talking on social media — some even comparing the debutant to young versions of David Campese and Stirling Mortlock.
Reece Hodge has nuclear missiles for legs #NZLvAUS
— Chris Brown (@ChrisCJBrown) August 27, 2016
Reece Hodge reminds me so much of my old favourite Stirling Mortlock - going to be in 1st XV very soon #NZLvAUS #SSRugby
— Brent Graham (@BrentGraham) August 27, 2016
What a way to mark your debut. Cool as a cucumber Reece Hodge #AUSvNZL
— Morgan Kasmarik (@MorganKasmarik) August 27, 2016
7:45pm
Mighty All Blacks too good for Wallabies
New Zealand have retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 14th straight year after outclassing an improved Wallabies outfit 29-9 in Saturday’s second Test in Wellington. Despite a vastly better performance than last week’s capitulation in Sydney, Australia never looked likely to win and could do little to stop the All Blacks once their irresistible catch-and-pass game clicked into gear.
The result brings Australia’s losing streak under Michael Cheika to six matches - one short of the seven defeats in 2005 that eventually led to the sacking of Eddie Jones.
A sold-out crowd of 35,372 was on hand at a windswept Westpac Stadium, where the Wallabies have not won for 16 years.
They began with clear intent but still fell down in key areas, coughing up three lineouts and struggling to contain the slick, polished world champions, missing 27 tackles to six.
Quade Cooper had a mixed showing in his first Test for almost a year and, as expected, was booed with nearly every touch.
The All Blacks weren’t as clinical as last week but were still far too good for Australia.
They led 15-9 at halftime but spent most of the second stanza in cruise control, with tries from Julian Savea and Sam Cane snuffing out any chance of an unlikely Australian comeback.
Winger Israel Dagg also crossed for a first-half double, his second try set up by a scintillating Beauden Barrett run.
The Wallabies barely had a sniff in attack with the All Blacks dominating possession and territory all night.
The closest they came was when Nick Phipps crossed in the dying moments but lost control of the ball as he tried to touch down. Australia’s only scores were two penalties from Bernard Foley, plus a monster 52m effort from Reece Hodge, who was thrown into the mix earlier than expected after veteran winger Adam Ashley-Cooper went off with concussion in the 17th minute.
Two-Test lock Adam Coleman was also yellow-carded just before the interval for a late shoulder charge on Ben Smith.
The Wallabies will look to recover from what has been a nightmare fortnight when they face South Africa on September 10 in Brisbane.
— AAP
6:40pm
SECOND HALF
80th Min — Australia attempt to have the final say but are stopped dead by handy All Black defence. NZ win 29 — 9.
79th Min — Israel Folau speeds through NZ defence but lacked support to send Australia over. Final pressure applied by Australia’s back line is too little too late.
77th Min — Quade Cooper smashed on the Australian tryline. Penalty to Australia as Foley kicks ball deep into touch. NZ 29 — AUS 9
75th Min — NZ not letting Australia catch a breath as quick hands pressure the Wallabies defence on the tryline. Scrum feed to Australia.
68th Min — Quick passing from NZ finds another gap to make valuable meters. Good Wallabies defence to force ball out of play. NZ find possession again and continue to apply pressure.
63rd Min — TRY NZ ruck finds a gap in Australia’s defence as Cane goes over the line. Barrett converts kick to put the All Black in a convincing position. NZ 29 — AUS 9
60th Min — Brilliant rolling maul from NZ pushes Australia dangerously close to goal. NZ forced to the wing and lose ball on the touch line. Lineout to Australia as Cooper sends ball into touch.
58th Min — NZ penalty. Barrett misses third penalty kick of the night.
55th Min — Stephen Moore putting in the hard yards once again for his country, charging headfirst into a ruck with a bloodied nose. Cooper cleaning up stray kicks and forcing NZ’s attack back.
49th Min — TRY Julian Savea rushes through for a try on the wing after a well executed quick-pass combo from the NZ back line. Barrett converts difficult sideline goal. NZ 22 — AUS 9
Embarrassing how easy Savea bumps off players. Wallabies playing whole 2nd half on back foot #Wallabies #BledisloeCup #AllBlacks
— Robert Grasso (@RobertGrasso) August 27, 2016
45th Min — Handy gap pierced by Will Genia sends Australia deep into the All Blacks’ half. NZ retain possession in the lineout.
41st min — Kick-off catch knocked-on by NZ. Scrum collapsed by Australia to give NZ a penalty.
Wallabies have missed stuck 27 tackles, missed 18. The All Blacks are 42 and 3. #NZLvAUS
— Beth Newman (@bethknewman) August 27, 2016
5:35pm
FIRST HALF
40th Min — Halftime siren sounds as Australia knock on to NZ, giving the All Blacks one last chance to add points before the second half. Wallabies run off to prepare for what will be an even tougher second half. NZ 15 — AUS 9
35th Min — PEN GOAL Rushed defence from NZ forces a knock-on. Another collapsed scrum stalls the game to give Australia a much-needed breather. Oustanding kick from halfway gives Australia handy points. NZ 15 — AUS 9
30th Min — Charge-down from NZ forces Australia to give a penalty away to NZ. Barrett misses his second kick of the night. NZ 15 — AUS 6
25th Min — Oustanding pressure applied by the All Blacks as Australia are forced to dig themselves out of their goal area. Penalty to NZ kicked into touch.
23rd Min — TRY Israel Dagg slides over for his second try for the night after more gaps in Australia’s defence were exposed by NZ back line. Conversion missed by Barrett NZ 15 — AUS 6
21st Min — PEN GOAL Foley launches a kick over to take Australia to 6 points. NZ 10 — AUS 6
20th Min — Wallabies finally applying pressure in All Blacks territory but fail to pick gaps in NZ’s sturdy defence. Michael Hooper floored by a brilliant tackle.
17th Min — Knock on by NZ gives Australia scrum feed. Australia are pressured to get out of their half after NZ proved their attack and defence are far superior at this point of the match.
14th Min — PEN GOAL Beauden Barrett sends another over after a penalty in Wallabies territory. NZ 10 — AUS 3
12th Min — PEN GOAL Australia sends one through the goal to rack up their first points for the night. NZ 7 — AUS 3
9th Min — TRY Aaron Smith finds a gap and sends the NZ wing through the Wallabies’ defence for a try. Beauden Barret converts try to clock over 200 career points for NZ.
5th Min — Deep kicking from Quade Cooper pushes All Blacks back. Penalty to NZ kicked into touch close to Wallabies try line.
1st Min — And we’re off, penalty to New Zealand first minute which sees the All Blacks creep close to the Wallabies 22.
UPDATE | @AdamCoopy has failed his concussion test. #NZLvAUS
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) August 27, 2016
4:45pm
Michael Cheika: “It’s going to be difficult to come back”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believes his players are in the right frame of mind to tackle what looms as one of the biggest challenges they’ll ever face in rugby.
Cheika’s Wallabies face the rampant world champion All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Wellington on Saturday night. On the back of last week’s demoralising 42-8 defeat in Sydney, the Wallabies have been shunned by bookmakers, savaged by their critics and are considered next to no chance of victory, needing to break a 15-year losing run in New Zealand to keep the series alive. But within the four walls of Camp Wallaby, Cheika insists the belief is still there.
“It’s going to be difficult to come back,” he said.
“We’ve broken it down this week and had a look at each person and what he can do to make a difference this weekend and feel like we’re in a pretty good space there, so we’ll see how we go.” The Wallabies will cop a sixth consecutive Test defeat if they can’t produce some sort of miracle in front of a sold-out Westpac Stadium crowd.
All Blacks skipper Kieran Read said they’d be fools to expect another limp performance from the Australians.
“We certainly love playing for the Bledisloe Cup. We know it’s a big Test, every time we play against Australia we say it, it’s never an easy game,” he said.
“We know we’ve got to prepare accordingly, otherwise she’s one hell of a night and you normally don’t come out on the right side of it.” Cheika has made several changes to his side, recalling Quade Cooper after a year out of international rugby and also throwing rookie Adam Coleman in for a start next to Kane Douglas in the second row.
Lingering wind and rain could make life even tougher for the Wallabies on Saturday night, particularly given Cooper and new inside centre Bernard Foley are expected to kick for territory more often.
Australia’s kickers and catchers had a brief run at Westpac Stadium on Friday and Cheika believes they are primed to handle whatever conditions are thrown their way.
“The boys would have worked on that with Mick (Byrne) and Stephen (Larkham), they would have talked to the kickers about that,”
— AAP
4pm
Teams
Teams (15-1)
New Zealand: Ben Smith; Israel Dagg, Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody
Reserves: James Parsons, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Seta Tamanivalu
Australia: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Dane Haylett-Petty; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (c), Scott Sio
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Reece Hodge
Referee: Roman Poite (France)
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