Bledisloe Cup 2020: Wallabies save some face with thrilling 24-22 defeat of New Zealand in series finish

The Wallabies have produced one of the great turnarounds of Australian rugby to beat the All Blacks 24-22.

Goal-maker Reece Hodge of the Wallabies kicks during the 2020 Tri-Nations match between Australia and the New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Dave Rennie was able to celebrate his first Test win as an international coach when the Wallabies produced a 40-point turnaround from their record defeat in Sydney last week to beat the All Blacks 24-22 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

“Not a bad place to do it, and on a day when a Queenslander, James Slipper, brought up his 100th Test match,” Rennie said.

He admitted the Wallabies had been very disappointed with their effort last weekend, when they were thrashed by a record 43-5.

So to come out on Saturday night, with Reece Hodge starting at five-eighth for only the second time in his career, and with three more debutants, and to win by two, was one of the great turnarounds in the history of Australian rugby.

It was the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup clash of 2020. The series was won by the All Blacks after a draw, their two wins, and Australia’s win in the final.

It was the seventh Australian Test victory in succession at the landmark Brisbane stadium and it was achieved without the asterisk that looked like being attached to the result when the All Blacks were reduced to 14 men for the final three-quarters of the match.

Just 11 minutes later, the Wallabies too were reduced to 14 after debutant Lachie Swinton produced a head-high tackle almost identical to the one that had caused Ofa Tuungafasi to be red-carded.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie before the match. Picture: Getty Images

There was no malice involved in either tackle. When the Wallabies beat the All Blacks in Perth last year, their win was tainted by the early send-off of Scott Barrett. But this time the scales were balanced very quickly.

Additionally, both teams were reduced for a time to 13 men following yellow cards to Marika Koroibete (41st minute) and the aforementioned Barrett brother.

Rennie was proud of all three debutants, praising Tom Wright for scoring with his first touch of the ball in Test football and Angus Bell for scrummaging so powerfully. But he almost saved his highest praise for Swinton.

“He made a big statement in the 30 minutes he was on. Everything we asked of him we delivered, a real edge. He’ll be disappointed but he made a real announcement on the Test stage tonight.”

Tom Wright, top left, of the Wallabies after running over to score a try. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

All Black coach Ian Foster was philosophical about the send-offs.

“Both teams got dealt pretty much with the same cards,” said Foster, who broke into a rare smile when he realised he has inadvertently had a play on words.

“A lot has changed in seven days and this is why we love Test rugby. Never underestimate a team that’s trying. They controlled the game better than us,’’ he said.

“They were criticised last week for not having a kicking game. They rectified that pretty quickly tonight,” he said, referring to the Wallabies’ stunning opening try.

The 10 minutes Koriobete spent in the bin were about the only respite the All Blacks has from him. The Wallabies winger turned on an extraordinary defensive effort, running down Sevu Reece with a try-saving tackle in the corner and generally pressuring almost every single mistake the New Zealanders made. And there were plenty.

It was, in many sense, a messy game, made doubly so by the four cards. But, as Foster noted, the Wallabies handled the chaos far the better.

Head coach Ian Foster of the All Blacks during the matchj: Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The last strident chords of the haka had barely faded before Australia had a try on the board, thanks to an unsuspected piece of imagination from Australian five-eighth. Taking the ball as first receiver from a lineout in the third minute, Hodge lobbed a neat chip kick into no-man land for the All Blacks.

It bounced awkwardly for two defenders but brilliantly for Australian fullback Tom Banks who sent a flick pass out to winger Tom Wright. It was the Brumbies flyer’s first touch of the ball in Test football and an unforgettable one as he stepped off his right foot and planted the ball over the line for a stunning try.

Not since Andrew Leeds scored a try in a win over the All Blacks in 1986 has a debutant celebrated with a double victory over the New Zealanders.

Jordie Barrett of the All Blacks kicks a penalty during the match. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

Such a start required an immediate response from the All Blacks and they didn’t disappoint, laying siege to the Wallabies’ line for a total of 29 phases in back-to-back offensive plays, before Ngani Laumape worked a run-around on Jordie Barrett and flung a pass to his left.

Wright knew he was on his lonesome and attempted to grab an intercept but all he did was deflect the ball forward, where winger Reiko Ioane grabbed the ball for the try.

Tom Wright, left, of the Wallabies celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first try. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

When the Australians had the ball in hand – which happened only 41 per cent of the time in the first half – they looked threatening, with a well-worked set piece lineout move almost putting winger Koroibete into the clear. The All Blacks just nabbed him but Sevu Reece was penalised at the ensuing ruck and up stepped Hodge to kick the penalty goal. Australia 8-5.

Until now, it has all been proceeding to plan, albeit with both sides going at it with a passion that belied any talk of a dead rubber. But in the 23rd minute it all began to come unglued.

Wright, playing with consummate confidence, accepted a kick inside his own 22 but, after shaping to kick into touch, he suddenly cut loose, beating man after man until he took on one man too many and ran into a brickwall in the shape of Tuungafasi.

It was a sickening tackle that took him high but Wright, though shaken, got back to his feet. But by now the match officials were involving themselves en masse and, almost inevitably, Tuungafasi found himself sent off. Fifty-seven minutes of the match remained.

The Australians ramped up the pressure, winning three penalties in quick succession – none of which they kicked for goal – and twice they kicked for the corner in an attempt to exploit the extra man.

Yet, as ever, the All Blacks responded, winning the penalty as the Wallabies were on the attack. Dramatically, the momentum shifted. It began with a straight-forward penalty goal to Barrett almost directly in front, to level the scores.

The Wallabies were desperate to re-impose themselves from the kick-off – too desperate, in fact, as it happened as hitman Swinton hit All Black lock Sam Whitelock with a high bellringer.

Everyone knew what would happen next, considering Tuungafasi’s fate. The Australian blindside flanker was sent off and any thoughts of an asterisk being attached to this result disappeared as both sides were reduced to 14.

Make that 13 men, as Koroibete was sent to the sin bin, as the last man to offend on a team warning. Seemingly he had done everything right, pouncing on All Blacks Anton Leinert-Brown following a fumble on the NZ backline. But he got the tackle wrong and referee Nic Berry had no hesitation in pulling out the yellow card.

Marika Koroibete of the Wallabies with the ball during the match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Worse was to follow as Slipper, celebrating his 100th Test, was forced off just before halftime, clutching what seemed to be a dislocated elbow. He had been exceptional in his milestone match and the crowd rose to give him an appropriate send-off.

But lost in the moment was that Angus Bell came on for his Test debut. His father, Mark, has also played for the Wallabies, making the Bells the first father-and-son to play for Australia since Dave and Sam Carter.

Just as the All Blacks looked set to score long after the halftime siren, the Wallabies risked all by sending Matt Philips up to contest their lineout. The same tactics cost them a try in Sydney but this time it worked, as he jagged the ball back onto the Australian side of the ruck for halfback Nic White to ground it in goal. The two sides jogged off to the sheds, not a point between them.

Now the see-sawing began. The Australians went ahead 11-8 through a Hodge penalty following a high shot on Hunter Paisami. The All Blacks responded with a driving maul try to hooker Codie Taylor in the 52nd minute. Hodge struck again in the 58th minute after Bell destroyed the NZ scrum and then nosed in front, 17-15, with a penalty from point-blank range.in the 69th minute.

It was then that Taniela Tupou raised his hand as a truly world-class tight-head. Twice in the buIld-up to his own try, he carried the ball through the thick of the All Blacks defence, even scattering Ardie Savea. And then when hooker Folau Fainga’a flicked him the sweetest of passes from the thick of a ruck on the All Blacks line, he launched his 135kg at the New Zealanders and crashed over.

With Hodge landing the pressure conversion, Australia took the score out to 24-15, meaning the visitors would have to score twice to win.

Much to Michael Hooker’s disgust, they scored once, through replacement lock Tupou Vaai – to make it 24-22 – but they had run out of time to score a second time. Australia bore down on its scrum feed and then rejoiced as Noah Lolesio launched an ugly, off-balance kick into touch to seal a dramatic victory.