The All Blacks have beaten Australia 33-25 in the first Bledisloe Cup match of 2021.
Australia was trying to win in Auckland for the first time since 1986, before any of the current Australian team was born.
The game was also the 100th Test for All Black half back Aaron Smith.
The first half wasn’t the best advertisement for rugby with both teams struggling to find any cohesion. However, the All Blacks led 16-8 at half time, through a Sevu Reece in the 39th minute.
Three second-half tries from the All Blacks put the game beyond the Wallabies. But in the final 15 minutes Australia came back three tries of their own.
Kicking ultimately cost Australia as Noah Lolesi made just two of his seven efforts at goal at a windy Eden Park.
New Zealand have won the Bledisloe Cup for the last 18 years. The next game will be in Auckland again next weekend with the three-match series concluding in Perth on 28 August.
Teams
New Zealand: McKenzie, Reece, Liernert-Brown, Havili, R. Ioane, Mo’unga, Smith, Bower, Taylor, Laulala, Retallick, Whitelock, A. Ioane, Papali’i, Savea.
Replacements: B. Barrett, Weber, Tu’inukuafe, Taukeiaho, Ta’avao-Matau, Tuipulotu, Jacobson. Not Used: J. Barrett.
Australia: Banks, Petaia, Ikitau, Paisami, Kellaway, Lolesio, McDermott, Slipper, Paenga-Amosa, Alaalatoa, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, Hooper, Wilson.
Replacements: Hodge, To’omua, Gordon, Bell, Uelese, Tupou, Philip, McReight
One Response
The All Blacks are nearly the best team :-).