‘Gutted’ Wallabies fall just short of Bledisloe boilover as 22-year nightmare continues
The Bledisloe Cup will return across the Tasman for yet another year but the Wallabies may just have proved they’re not dead yet.
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The Wallabies’ Bledisloe nightmare will continue into a 23rd year despite one of the great comebacks from the Aussie side, falling just short 31-28.
It means the famous trophy will stay in All Black hands for yet another year as the Wallabies haven’t claimed the silverware since back in 2002.
While it’s always going to be difficult since the Bledisloe Cup series reverted to a two-match series — meaning the Wallabies need to win a match in Australia and New Zealand to claim the trophy back — it was a stunning recovery from the Aussies.
Although the loss takes the Wallabies’ losing streak against the All Blacks out to eight straight, the scoreline literally could have been anything early in the match.
After 25 minutes, it was 28-7 with the All Blacks looking like they would run up a cricket score.
But the Wallabies showed plenty of heart to ultimately fall three points short and offer something to build off early in Joe Schmidt’s tenure as Aussie coach.
However it doesn’t make it any easier for Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.
“Obviously gutted to not get the result there,” he said on Stan Sport.
“Giving a 21-point head start to the All Blacks is always going to make it tough for us but super proud of the effort and the way we fought back there.
“And a massive shoutout to the crowd — 70,000 people there supporting us. It really did lift us there and hopefully everyone saw how much this jersey means to us and we’re working bloody hard for something.
“Gutted to not get the result but so proud of everyone.”
Fans were blown away by the Wallabies performance as hope begins to grow.
The Daily Telegraph’s Jamie Pandaram tweeted: “Remarkable result. All Blacks retain the #BledisloeCup with a 31-28 win. At 21-0 up after 15 minutes, it looked like another walkover for the Kiwis, but the Wallabies showed admirable grit to fight back.”
Writer Jon Cardinelli put the result in context, saying: “All Blacks undone by a few poor passes, otherwise would be 5 or more tries up. Wallabies far more physical after HT. Still a few soft moments, but they’re opening up the ABs.”
The Squidge Rugby X account posted: “The Wallabies have all the things a coach can’t instil, and they have one of the best coaches in the world to work on the rest. There’s enough there today to say they’re not as far off as it might have felt the last year.”
Another fan was excited to see the turnaround: “This is turning out to be a really good game!! In first half looked like @AllBlacks were going to run away with it!! @wallabies making a real fist of it!!”
With the All Blacks coming off back-to-back losses to South Africa, and the Springboks able to win The Rugby Championship as of Sunday morning when they face Argentina, the visitors looked like they were ready to make a statement.
Coming into the match with a 1-3 record, the Wallabies were the only team in the four-team tournament with a negative points difference.
Needing to bounce back from a humiliating 67-27 annihilation at the hands of Argentina, the Wallabies were talking a big game, but the opening 20 minutes were nothing short of a disaster.
In front of 68,061 fans at Accor Stadium, the Wallabies were nowhere near the All Blacks’ level from the opening whistle.
After the Wallabies were tackled into touch after receiving the All Blacks kick-off, New Zealand went straight on the attack.
Noah Lolesio dropped an attacking bomb for the All Blacks, before failing to find touch as the All Blacks ploughed over after just 91 seconds as Will Jordan charged through a gap to score under the posts.
It only got worse from there as the All Blacks led 21-0 after just 15 minutes before Fraser McReight scored as the Wallabies showed a pulse off a scrum set piece.
A near instant reply reopened the 21-point lead, until Wallabies hooker Matt Faessler charged his way over.
At halftime, All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams said the issue was the Wallabies had given them “time and space”.
“When they’ve got a solid line, they’re just not getting off it,” he said during the Stan halftime break.
“They’re not putting pressure on this All Blacks side.”
Wallabies great Justin Harrison said it might have been a defensive plan from the Wallabies that was panned in the first half as fans tipped a “flogging”.
ABC commentator Zane Bojack tweeted it was “bloody embarrassing”.
One fan said: “Passive, essentially negative defensive mentality is killing the Wallabies.”
Another commented: “This is such a poor Wallabies team. Defence is paper thin.”
And a 14-point deficit would have felt like a kindness for Australia after the All Blacks butchered several chances and should have led by more, including with a knock on which was picked up by the MRO in the lead up to an ultimately disallowed All Blacks try on the halftime siren.
The All Blacks were denied again in the second half, held up in one instance, and denied by a forward pass in another.
But the All Blacks’ mistakes left the door open for the Wallabies, who gratefully took the opportunity.
Although an early second half penalty goal made it a 17-point game, a 64th minute try for Hunter Paisami left the door wide open.
A sin bin for Anton Lienert-Brown in the lead up to the try and Caleb Clarke also being shown a yellow in the 71st minute gave the Wallabies a two-man advantage.
Len Ikitau looked to have made it a three-point game in the 72nd minute but a knock on from Andrew Kellaway on a ball that just refused to sit up for him denied the try.
When Tom Wright scored two minutes from time, there was still hope for the Wallabies but it wasn’t enough as the All Blacks wrapped up yet another Bledisloe Cup.
On Stan Sport, Alanna Ferguson said: “There were so many positives for the Wallabies fans.”
Originally published as ‘Gutted’ Wallabies fall just short of Bledisloe boilover as 22-year nightmare continues
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