Bledisloe heartbreak after the All Blacks steal victory from the Wallabies 35-29, in Dunedin
The Wallabies put up a fight most believed was beyond them before their heartbreaking defeat to the All Blacks.
Few gave Australia any chance of winning, and they were proved right, as New Zealand retains the trans-Tasman trophy for a 15th consecutive year.
WRAP:
Two minutes from fulltime, two minutes away from a decider in Brisbane in October, the All Blacks broke through to win the Dunedin Test tonight as the Wallabies finished six points short on the scoreboard but well ahead in terms of respect won.
A week after losing Bledisloe I by eight tries to four, two days after losing their most potent forward, Adam Coleman, the Australians showed their courage by twice fighting back to take the lead, only to ultimately lose to a Beauden Barrett try in the 78th minute, 35-29.
It was five tries apiece but Bernard Foley, faultless of the kicking tee last week when the Wallabies lost 54-34 in Sydney, left nine points out there with three of his conversions hitting the uprights and bouncing away.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was gutted by the defeat. “We don’t want to be gallant losers, that’s not our thing,” he said. “I thought we deserved to win tonight. We did enough and copped a few key calls against us at really important times and that’s the way she rolls. Maybe the script was written.
“It’s extremely disappointing. We’ve copped grief from everyone and that’s not what our boys deserve. I understand that’s the way it goes but I wanted them to get the reward tonight and it didn’t end up working out that way.
“We should have won it and I apologise to Aussies for that because they wanted to wake up tomorrow having beaten New Zealand and I’m always proud to be Australian and coach this team. It’s a huge match for us in Perth (against the Springboks on September 9) and it’s going to be really important for us to play well there and to get the people behind us there.”
Even with all the angst over the fate of the Western Force in Super Rugby, the people of Perth will surely get behind the Wallabies after this display.
Foley described it as “a line in the sand” moment for the Australian team and indeed it was as players such as Will Genia, Ned Hanigan and Sean McMahon, players who came in for criticism last week in Sydney, but stood tall tonight.
The Australian scrum was in trouble early, but when Tatafu Polota-Nau came on just before halftime and Sekope Kepu at the start of the second half, the Wallabies were able to withstand the All Blacks and even at time apply some pressure of their own.
The Australians got off to a miracle start when Israel Folau took an intercept 30 seconds into the match and ran 70m to score, and then built on that with further tries to captain Michael Hooper from a driving maul and Foley from a scrum break by Will Genia. After only 15 minutes of play the Wallabies were 17-0 in front but the real test was still to come, as the All Blacks inevitably fought back.
By halftime the lead had been cut to 17-14 after tries to Reiko Ioane and Aaron Smith but the score remained lock at that three-point buffer right up to the last quarter when finally Barrett scored after the All Blacks had received nine of 11 penalties in succession.
But the Australians showed their mettle when they twice came from behind, Genia scoring from the ruck base after Test debutant Izack Rodda claimed a turnover with his first touch in international football and then, after winger Ben Smith scored on the back of a 20-phase build-up, Kurtley Beale crashed over between the posts to deliver a 29028 lead to the Wallabies with five minutes remaining.
Australians with long memories fretted that there was too much time remaining and when the All Blacks surged through and won the kick-off, courtesy of their captain Keiran Read, there was a sense of inevitability about what was to follow.
Sure enough, Read was released in midfield and in a bewildering interchange halves TJ Perenara and then Barrett handled before the All Black five-eighth sprinted away for the winning try.
There were so many gallant Australians that it seems churlish to single any individuals out, but Beale was excellent for a second week in a row – this time largely through defence – while his centre partner Tevita Kuridrani caused the All Blacks grief every time he handled. Genia answered his critics with a masterly performance at halfback, while Hooper lead from the front. It was, indeed, a composed display for him under trying circumstances. Brodie Retallick could easily have been yellow carded twice, once for upending Hanigan and landing him on his head, the other for a shoulder charge and late hit on Hooper when Genia scored his try and each time the TMO decided there was no “clear and obvious intent”.
How it all played out..
Score: NZL 35 — AUS 29
80th min — Full time: That’s it. There is no more time for Australia to come back. New Zealand has won 35-29 and for a 15th successive time, an All Black captain raises the Bledisloe Cup.
78 min: The one thing the Wallabies have to do is win the kick-off but in fact Read gets up there and taps it back for the All Blacks. Three phases later, Read does the damage as he surges through the middle. The Australians try to respond but the ball is quickly passed to TJ Perenara who in an instant reverses it back to Barrett who charges over for the matchwinner.
75 min: Again the Wallabies fight back, as Genia put Belale over between the posts after Sam Whitelock thought the danger was coming from his left when in fact it was coming straight at him. Foley doesn’t miss this time and Australia clings to a 29-28 lead.
71 min: The All Blacks again come back, this time with Ben Smith scoring after a build-up that lasted over 20 phases and it’s starting to get frenetic now as NZ takes the lead 28-22.
67 min: Izack Rodda comes into the field for his Test debut and immediately steals the ball at the breakdown, sparking a counter-attack that ultimately ends in a stunning try for Will Genia, charging from the ruck base. And would you believe it, Foley hits the woodwork for a third time but Australia has hit the lead 22-21.
62min: Barrett scores, dashing around to the blindside of a 5m scrum and crashes through the tackles of Dane Haylett-Petty and Will Genia to crash over. The All Blacks have hit the front for the first time in the match, even though it’s still three tries apiece. And with Barrett landing the conversion, the lead is out to 21-17.
52 min: All Blacks try is disallowed as the TMO decides he cannot confirm that Brodie Retallick has managed to ground the ball over the line after NZ takes a lineout 5m out. Incredible, when do you ever see the All Blacks denied a try under such circumstances.
NO TRY! Brodie Retallick thought he had crashed over but the TMO does not agree. #Wallabies keep 17-14 lead. #NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/bzSoeFWrCV
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 26, 2017
The All Blacks take a scrum after getting a penalty but Beale strips the ball from Sonny Bill Williams in a front-on tackle. But the Kiwis have gained nine of the past 11 penalties and it’s staggering that the man in black haven’t broken through. What is going to be examined after the Test is Kieran Read’s confidence in his side to repeatedly take scrums, rather than take a shot at goal.
49 min: What a Test match. There are try-saving tackles coming from both sides left and right as both sides give it their all in attack. Can you believe it but Kurtley Beale has just puled off two massive tackles.
39 min: Sensation as the All Blacks are denied a try right on halftime as Ben Smith cuts through right on the line but he loses the ball as he dives over right next to the posts. Still, they then destroy the Wallabies scrum — even with Tatafu Polota-Nau replacing Stephen Moore on a blood bin — and they take another scrum. The Australian forwards do what is requires and repel the eight-man shove but as the ball bobbles out, Hooper is up on Aaron Smith too quickly and the world’s best halfback steps through to score. It’s a cruel blow right on the stroke of halftime but the Australians are amazingly three points in front, 17-14, when a week ago, they were trailing 40-6.
It was an impressive half from the Wallabies and though each of their tries was a little fortunate, the main thing was that the Australians were tackling with a vengeance.
This is the 1st time the #Wallabies have led the #AllBlacks at half-time in NZL since 2009 (13-10 at Eden Park) #NZLvAUS #BledisloeCup
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) August 26, 2017
Tevita Kuridrani, Michael Hooper and Rob Simmons were all outstanding but the critical factor was that the Wallabies were dominating the advantage line. Crucially, too, the All Blacks have lost flanker Sam Cane and outside centre Ryan Crotty to a head knock.
Ominously, though, the scrum is in trouble, even with Polota-Nau at hooker.
29 min: Foley hit the right hand upright with a penalty shot at goal and the ball bounces back into play. That’s seven points left out there by Foley but there is almost a hidden bonus as Henry Speight dives for the ball and just knocks it on short of the line. Almost try number four.
24 min — Hooper sees red: The All Blacks dodge a bullet, certainly a yellow card, when Brodie Retallick up-ends Hanigan and lands him on his head with the ball nowhere in sight — and the TMO rules there was “no clear and obvious intent”. Cheika is not impressed! “So we’re allowed to lift their legs and put them on their head?” Michael Hooper asked the referee after claiming the play should have resulted in a red card.
22min: The empire strikes back as the All Blacks have a sustained period of possession. Aaron Smith milks a penalty by throwing the ball deliberately into a retreating Ned Hanigan and from the ensuing lineout Smith turns an inside ball into winger Reiko Ioane for a try. Beauden Barrett makes the conversion and it’s Australia 17-7.
15 min: Oh my goodness, Australia score a third try. Their scrum is in huge problems but the ball squirts out to halfback Will Genia who dashes from the scrum base into open space. Hooper carries the ball on before Foley is on hand to score the try. Agonisingly, the conversion hits the uprights and bounces away. But Australia leads 17-0 and, by the by, the Wallabies have a bonus point at this time.
11min: Try!
Australia scores again as the driving maul 10m from the All Blacks line disintegrates and suddenly captain Michael Hooper finds himself in open space with no black jersies in front of him. This time Foley nails the extras and it’s the Wallabies stunningly ahead 12-0 ahead. That’s the best start to a Bledisloe Test by the Wallabies since 2005.
Folau’s stunning start
Test slightly delayed, with the lights at Forsyth Barr Stadium failing, so it’s going to be a 5.45 kick-off. The Wallabies are trying to keep their composure in their dressing room but now the players are making their way onto the field. It’s a huge ask the Wallabies are facing, trying to win for the first time since 2002 on New Zealand soil to keep the Bledisloe Cup series alive. If the All Blacks win, it will create a record for one team winning the trophy, 15 consecutive seasons.
And now a minute’s silence for the legendary Sir Colin Meads. Sam Whitelock stands a little prouder, as the man who now wears the “5” jersey, which once belonged to Meads.
But it is the Wallabies who strike first as Israel Folau intercepts a Damian McKenzie pass and scoots 70m to score a stunning try.
Unfortunately Bernard Foley can’t add the extras but the Wallabies lead 5-0. Significantly, Michael Cheika barely registers his delight which seems to be a good sign. The All Blacks score a penalty from the kick-off but the Wallabies are tackling much better than last week and survive a 10-phase attack. Eight minutes, Australia 5-0
Welcome to The Australian’s live coverage of the second Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia and New Zealand. For once it doesn’t really matter what the weather is because today’s Test is being played indoors at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, where conditions are always tailor-made for running rugby. Nonetheless, this match will be played with a heavy cloud over it, following the death of legendary All Black Sir Colin Meads, whose funeral will be held on Monday. It is like the death of a king and, in a way it is, because Sir Colin was rugby royalty.
The haka today will surely have special significance for all New Zealanders.
After last week’s 54-34 thrashing, the Kiwis are doing everything to talk up this match, although one writer surely went over the top by suggesting that if Donald Trump could win the White House, anything was surely possible — including a Wallabies win! Condescension like that we can do without ...
The Wallabies nonetheless have a look of advice to keep on their minds, having been constantly reminded this week to make their tackles, keep their spacing right, slow down the ball at the tackle contest and generally make a nuisance of themselves to stop the All Blacks developing momentum.
The loss of lock Adam Coleman to a shoulder injury is a blow the Australians could well have done without as he is the most honest and abrasive of the Wallabies defenders.
But hopefully Rory Arnold, who was in the starting side last week before being dropped to the bench and then reinstated, will respond powerfully to the chance he has been given. So too his locking partner Rob Simmons whose played well off the bench last week.
The inclusion of Dane Haylett-Petty and Tevita Kuridrani in the outside backs should surely stiffen the Wallabies defence out wide, where most of the tackles were missed in Sydney, though to be fair the men out wide were inheriting problems that had begun further infield.
There was little that Australian captain Michael Hooper could do last week to stop the slaughter, particularly in the first half, but he still will need to be much more assertive today.
Hopefully this is the Test that gives us back those cracking trans-Tasman contests of years past. Not long until we find out.
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