Scott Barrett of New Zealand during the New Zealand All Blacks v Australian Wallabies Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship test match at the MCG, Melbourne, Australia on Saturday 29 July 2023. © Copyright photo: Scott Barbour / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2023 / www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks stormed to a 38-7 win over a sore and sorry Australia to seal a third consecutive Rugby Championship title.
The victory also ensured the Bledisloe Cup, the annual trophy contested by the trans-Tasman nations, will stay in New Zealand for a 21st year in succession.
In front of heaving crowd of 83,944 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, winger Mark Telea grabbed a try in each half, while Shannon Frizell, Codie Taylor, Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane also crossed for the All Blacks.
In a brutal defensive effort matched with potent attacking, the All Blacks dominated the hosts in the six tries to one victory.
Scott Barrett created an immediate opportunity delivering a thundering hit on Tate McDonald that dislodged the ball, allowing Shannon Frizzell to touch down for the easiest of tries.
The Wallabies struck back immediately off a Mark Nawaqanitawase breakaway as they spun the ball out to winger Marika Koroibete for the 7-5 lead.
Codie Taylor couldn't be stopped from the rolling maul as the All Blacks took the lead back 12-7 heading into halftime.
The All Blacks pulled together a number of impressive phases before Will Jordan stepped out of the tackle to cross.
With Richie Mo'unga kicking the conversion the All Blacks headed into the half-time break with a 19-7 advantage.
The All Blacks hardly got in Wallabies' territory for the best part of twenty minutes in the second half but the hosts were unable to convert their dominance into points.
Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle. The ill discipline allowed the All Blacks to mount an attack.
The visitors took their opportunity, striking to lead 26-7, with Caleb Clarke diving over for the try.
Some smooth backline passing saw Mark Talea score the All Blacks' fifth to lead 31-7 with 15 minutes to play.
Talea was back in the action minutes later with some smart footwork setting up a pass for a Rieko Ioane try.
Ardie Savea told SkySport it was a tremendous performance but the Wallabies put up a fight.
"The Wallabies came out firing," Savea said.
"I thought the Aussie forward pack were dominating as well and it was going back and forth."
A crowd of 83,944 watched the game at the MCG - the largest Wallabies' home crowd in 20 years.
"My daughter is in the crowd somewhere so for her to experience that was very special," he said.
- RNZ