New Zealand started slowly but finished strongly to defeat Australia 33-13 on Saturday, completing a sweep of the two-test Bledisloe Cup series.
When winger Caleb Clarke scored his second try and the All Blacks’ fifth in the 64th minute, it marked the first time in six tests that New Zealand scored points in the last quarter.
Australia opened the scoring and kept the game competitive until just before halftime when New Zealand took a 19-13 lead. The second half was dominated by the All Blacks, who scored two tries and 14 unanswered points, winning in Wellington for the first time in six years.
“We didn’t start too well but I’m really pleased with how we finished,” said All Blacks captain Scott Barrett. “There was some real grit in defense there in the way we held out the Aussies.”
The Wallabies, who haven’t beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand in 23 years, started off strong and seemed like a different team after just seven days. A slow start had cost them the first test in Sydney last weekend, where they missed the chance to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup after 21 years.
In that first match, Australia trailed 28-7 in the first half but made a strong comeback before losing 31-28.
On Saturday, the Wallabies scored the first try with backrower Fraser McReight in the eighth minute.
They led 10-5 and then 13-12 thanks to conversions and penalties from Noah Lolesio before New Zealand rallied to take a 19-13 lead at halftime. The All Blacks spent a lot of time in their own half during the first half but managed to break free, scoring tries from each member of their back three.
Right winger Sevu Reece scored in the 16th minute, fullback Will Jordan in the 22nd, and left winger Caleb Clarke in the 41st after the All Blacks, who were trailing 13-12, decided not to take a kickable penalty.
The Wallabies were behind at halftime even though they had more territory and possession, forcing the All Blacks to make over 90 tackles.
In the first half, the Wallabies were stronger than the All Blacks, especially leading up to McReight’s try. They were eager to attack New Zealand with every chance, even starting plays from deep in their own half.
At times, the All Blacks struggled with discipline and gave away the first six penalties of the match. Meanwhile, the Wallabies had trouble keeping the ball at the end of the first half and the start of the second, giving the All Blacks too many chances to counterattack, which they are very good at.
A turnover won by Ardie Savea led to Reece’s try. Jordan was a constant threat whenever he got the ball, and Australia found it hard to stop him.
A break by Jordan put New Zealand in a good position to attack in the 54th minute, and prop Tamaiti Williams scored to extend the All Blacks’ lead to 26-13.
Without the ball, Australia started giving away penalties, which gave New Zealand better chances to attack.
“That’s not the result we wanted,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. “I thought our first 40 was really good. We showed up, we started fast but we struggled with possession in the second half.”
Veteran scrumhalf T.J. Perenara left the field in the 62nd minute after playing his last test for New Zealand, and flanker Sam Kane was substituted in the 68th minute, becoming the 13th New Zealander to play 100 tests.
After scoring his second try and breaking the All Blacks’ drought in the final quarter, Clarke ended the game in the sin-bin for picking up the ball while offside.
