All Blacks take Bledisloe Cup with victory over wounded Wallabies

The All Blacks have once again secured the Bledisloe Cup with a 38-7 win over the Wallabies.

A packed crowd of 83,944 filled the MCG as the visitors ran away with the game in the second half.

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The Wallabies were hampered by a pair of yellow cards to Marika Koroibete and Taniela Tupou, whilst Tupou (ribs) and captain Allan Alaalatoa (leg) are in serious doubt for the World Cup after being forced from the field.

The All Blacks built their lead with two tries before the half and added three in the space of seven minutes to claim the bonus point win and the Rugby Championship.

“Gutted. It’s just disappointing. 83,000 people showed up here tonight to support us and we didn’t give them much,” stand-in captain Tate McDermott said.

“When we’re direct, we are at our best and we didn’t do that enough tonight.

“Defensively we need to chop more. Too many times we’re going high and they getting over the advantage line and we’re not recovering.”

All Blacks lock Scott Barrett sparked the visitors’ first try with a bone-crunching tackle on Tate McDermott 5 metres from the line, dislodging the ball for Shannon Frizell to score the easiest of tries.

The Wallabies had an instant response even if they had to wait for it.

It started with a great break from Mark Nawaqanitawase, opening the All Blacks up and allowing the hosts to build pressure.

They were certain hometown hero Rob Valetini found the line and when Marika Koroibete went inches away from scoring in the corner, their suspicions were confirmed as the TMO found the ball had touched the chalk.

Valetini and Nawaqanitawase were amongst the best for the Wallabies alongside loosehead prop Angus Bell in a night that quickly got away from them 

It started just after Valetini’s try when the All Blacks put the Wallabies under constant pressure in the search for the lead.

Mark Telea looked to have scored, only for the TMO to rule his quick tap invalid. The resulting penalty gave them further opportunities to strike as Marika Koroibete found himself sitting in the bin for a cynical foul.

The visitors eventually struck just before the break through Codie Taylor at the back of the rolling maul.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts with captain Allan Alaalatoa stretched off the field with a knee injury, buckling after a dominant Kiwi scrum.

Alaalatoa was pictured on the sidelines with a moon boot, ending the game on crutches

With all the momentum, Will Jordan continued his perfect scoring streak against the Wallabies to take a sudden 17-7 lead at the break.

The Wallabies had their own opportunities to build pressure, only to hit a black wall on defence as the All Blacks stop their rolling maul on the 5-metre line on three separate occasions.

In the process, Taniela Tupou reeled away from a carry, appearing to damage his ribs.

The tight-head tried to fight his way through the pain with Alaalatoa already off the field, coming back to haunt the hosts as he failed to dip in a tackle, yellow carded in the 57th minute.

This opened the floodgates for the visitors, scoring three tries in the space of seven minutes.

Blues trio Caleb Clarke, Telea and Rieko Ioane all crossed to seal the Bledisloe Cup for another year.

ALL BLACKS 38

TRIES: Frizell, Taylor, Jordan, Clarke, Telea, Ioane

CONS: Mo'unga 4/6

WALLABIES 7

TRIES: Valetini

CONS: Gordon 1/1

PENS: Gordon 0/1

Wallabies (1-15): Angus Bell, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Jed Holloway, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Andrew Kellaway.

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese.

New Zealand (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea (c), Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, Mark Telea, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett. 

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Samuel Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Christopher Ridley (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)