All Blacks Thrash Wallabies 40-12 in Rugby Championship
Sheevas Dayal
Auckland, August 26, 2018
Bledisloe Cup is here to stay.
Rugby was exciting at Eden Park, Auckland on August 25, 2018.
Under-fired Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika could not derive a plan to stop All Blacks general Beauden Barrett, who scored four tries in a 30 points haul, mounding more trans-Tasman misery.
Australia’s 32-year hoodoo at the Eden Park fortress has been extended for at least another 12 months as the All Blacks claimed the Bledisloe Cup for a historic 16th consecutive year.
All Blacks Captain Reid with the Bledisloe Cup
Australian Rugby low
The result has left Australian Rugby at an all time low heading into the Wallabies’ next game against South Africa on September 8, 2018 in Brisbane.
Barrett unbridled his speed and full range of skills, also converting five of his team’s six tries in one of the great Test displays.
His intellect aside, the Test was a hard-fought, grinding affair which emulated last week’s 38-13 New Zealand win in Sydney.
Nippy Wallabies half-back Will Genia’s try levelled the score 7-7 on the half-hour mark and it was only took a little while for Blitzing Barrett to score his second try on the stroke of the break which left the visitors seven points adrift at halftime.
As the second half got into gear, it seemed like we were watching the reply of last week’s test as the Wallabies turnovers were ruthlessly punished.
Beauden Barret scored for All Blacks
Bledisloe Cup Record
In a performance which will heap more burdens on Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, they could not handle five-eighth maestro Barrett, whose points haul is a Bledisloe Cup record.
Wallabies improved in set piece display after a chaotic Sydney test as their lineout was better and the introduction of props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa solidified the scrum.
Australian fullback Dane Haylett-Petty made some impressive runs from the left back in the absence of Israel Folau whilst as always No 8 David Pocock was a standout in the first half.
Barrett’s first try came from New Zealand’s only real attack in the opening half-hour, bursting through a yawning gap.
Australia enjoyed their best period on the back of some brilliant long-range work from Kurtley Beale and Marike Koroibete.
They turned down a penalty shot from right in front of the posts, setting a number of scrums which the under-pressure hosts were deemed to have collapsed before Genia scampered over.
Good Performance
The All Blacks pushed seven points clear again just before the break when they pounced on a Beale turnover, swept 80 metres and Smith put Barrett over again, giving the five-eighth all their points for the half.
Wallabies hearts sank in the 10 minutes after halftime when prop Joe Moody and flanker Liam Squire powered across for straightforward tries.
Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley followed up a try-saving tackle on Jordie Barrett with a slicing run to set up centre Reece Hodge that reduced the margin to 16 points.
Waisake Naholo also scored under the post with his dazzling and dancing run from the left flank but the try was ruled out by TMO as a forward pass.
By now, the spectators were singing Naholo’s name and the atmosphere was just ecstatic.
Waisake Naholo scored under the post
Barrett responded with a sizzling solo try, had another disallowed and bagged his fourth soon afterwards as the game opened up in a manner the New Zealanders thrive on.
Wallabies Squad: 1. Scott Sio (46 Tests) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (83 Tests) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (24 Tests) 4. Izack Rodda (8 Tests) 5. Adam Coleman (24 Tests) 6. Lukhan Tui (8 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (83 Tests) 8. David Pocock (70 Tests) 9. Will Genia (91 Tests) 10. Bernard Foley (59 Tests) 11. Marika Koroibete (12 Tests) 12. Kurtley Beale (75 Tests) 13. Reece Hodge (28 Tests) 14. Jack Maddocks (1 Test) 15. Dane Haylett-Petty (22 Tests)
Reserves: 16. Folau Faingaa* 17. Tom Robertson (22 Tests) 18. Sekope Kepu (95 Tests) 19. Rob Simmons (86 Tests) 20. Pete Samu (4 Tests) 21. Nick Phipps (65 Tests) 22. Matt Toomua (34 Tests) 23. Tom Banks*
All Blacks squad: (caps in brackets): 1. Joe Moody (35) 2. Codie Taylor (33) 3. Owen Franks (99) 4. Brodie Retallick (69) 5. Samuel Whitelock (100) 6. Liam Squire (18) 7. Sam Cane (56) 8. Kieran Read – captain (110) 9. Aaron Smith (75) 10. Beauden Barrett (65) 11. Waisake Naholo (20) 12. Ngani Laumape (6) 13. Jack Goodhue (2) 14. Ben Smith (69) 15. Jordie Barrett (5)
Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris (14) 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (4) 18. Ofa Tuungafasi (17) 19. Scott Barrett (20) 20. Ardie Savea (26) 21. TJ Perenara (46) 22. Damian McKenzie (16) 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (25)
Player Ratings
All Blacks
15. Jordie Barrett – 7; Finds gaps in teeth of opposition defences like a dentist with a heavy mortgage. Filling role to fine effect. 14. Ben Smith – 8; Balance and finesse leading to second Beauden Barrett try could’ve earned him a spot in Moscow ballet. Imperious under high ball; 13. Jack Goodhue – 7; Straightens the midfield with Kauri thighs and looks the future for the All Blacks with his robust running and tackling; 12. Ngani Laumape – 7; Heavily marked with little chance to express himself early. Got more wriggle room later to seize attacking chances; 11. Waisake Naholo – 7; Scrambled well in 12th minute. Looks best All Blacks candidate for a Michael Jackson moonwalk on the dancefloor post-match; 10. Beauden Barrett – 9; Achieved a “Greg Cornelsen” and on same ground 40 years on. Four tries gilded his command at 10 behind strong pack.
9. Aaron Smith – 7; Vision sent Beauden Barrett into space for first try. Saved try in 24th by getting in Genia’s way, but drifted too far in 30th; 8. Kieran Read (c) – 7; Body position earned plenty of traction as skipper ensured maintenance of 32-year Eden Park winning record; 7. Sam Cane – 6; Struggled to defuse Genia try. Did his knee leave him short of acceleration? Failed concussion test in second half; 6. Liam Squire – 7; Sound lineout option. Tackled relentlessly. Ran off Retallick’s shoulder to effectively seal game 28-7 in 48th; 5. Sam Whitelock – 7; Had Coleman pinch a lineout in front of him in fourth minute. Bruised his way back into the game to ensure backs had a platform; 4. Brodie Retallick – 8; Reached peak nuisance value in 46th minute contesting ball in a maul. A handy chap to know in a lolly scramble; 3. Owen Franks – 6; Steady show from ninth ABs centurion. Tryline might need a protein shake drop as incentive to get him some points.
2. Codie Taylor – 7; Displayed hands which could’ve held a Ming vase in lead-up to second; Beauden Barrett try. Reminded of Hika Reid at Ballymore in 1980.
1. Joe Moody – 7
Penalised in scrum five metres out in 25th minute. Instinctively picked out Genia as he bulldozed to try in 43rd.
Reserves
16. Nathan Harris – 6; 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 7; 18. Ofa Tuungafasi – 6; 19. Scott Barrett – N/A; 20. Ardie Savea – 6; 21. TJ Perenara – 7; 22. Damian McKenzie – 8; 23. Anton Lienert-Brown – 7; Wallabies; 15. Dane Haylett-Petty – 6; Slick break in 15th minute. Looked safe option in Folau absence, but had hands full as opposition juggernaut got on a roll; 14. Jack Maddocks – 6; Tackled with aplomb initially, especially in scrambling situations, but was grasping more air as final whistle loomed; 13. Reece Hodge – 7
Proved a human cannon ball when launched into gap by Foley for second try. Hard to counter fluid All Blacks passing; 12. Kurtley Beale – 7; Kept crosshairs on Laumape. Highlight was an MC Hammer dance behind scrum to distract All Blacks ahead of Genia try; 11. Marika Koroibete – 6; Skills and pace shone. Walked tightrope on touchline in 24th. Struggled to counter; All Black attacks later; 10. Bernard Foley – 7; First-class tackle around Jordie Barrett’s ankles to prevent try. Used turn of pace to put Hodge clear but chances rare; 9. Will Genia – 7; Perfect snipe for 30th-minute try to draw level. Direction was solid but got trickier as back-pedalling increased; 8. David Pocock – 7; sportsmanship beyond reproach but despite his toil at the breakdown, the Wallabies’ momentum dissipated; 7. Michael Hooper (c) – 7; Looked about as happy as Peter Dutton after initial parity dissolved. Committed throughout and gracious afterwards; 6. Lukhan Tui – 6; Had a ball ripped away in sixth minute by Retallick. Made a better account later, particularly running in 61st; 5. Adam Coleman – 6; Powerful running in tight spaces. Wrapped mitts tight around lineout takes. Hard to maintain resolve as pressure mounted.
4. Izack Rodda – 6; Good steal in front of Whitelock in fourth. Had caterpillar tracks on in possession. Couldn’t prevent Moody rumble; 3. Allan Alaalatoa – 7; Put pressure on Moody in 25th to earn penalty. Demonstrated a penchant for burying tackles. A combative presence; 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau – 5; Overthrew lineout in ninth minute. Snatched at a vacuum to let Squire through in 48th which turned game at 28-7.
1. Scott Sio – 6; Combative duel with Franks at scrum. Started to lag as match pace wound up at Fortress Eden.
Reserves: 16. Folau Faingaa – 6; Tom Robertson – 6; 18. Sekope Kepu – 6; 19. Rob Simmons – 5; 20. Pete Samu – 6; 21. Nick Phipps – 6; 22. Matt Toomua – 6; 23. Tom Banks – N/A
Sheevas Dayal is Rugby Correspondent of Indian Newslink. He filed the above report and accompanying pictures.
