Try record as All Blacks retain cup

AUCKLAND: Beauden Barrett scored a record four tries as the All Blacks withstood a tense first half before running away with the second in a 4012 victory over Australia at Eden Park on Saturday, retaining the Bledisloe Cup with a test to spare.

Prop Joe Moody and loose forward Liam Squire also crossed in the Rugby Championship clash for the world champions, who have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. The third match in the series takes place in Yokohama on October 27.

Halfback Will Genia and centre Reece Hodge scored for the Wallabies, who, similar to last week’s 3813 loss in Sydney, were competitive until halftime, when the score was 147, before the All Blacks accelerated away after the interval.

Barrett’s four tries is an All Black record in a match against Australia and he almost added a fifth when he touched down in the corner, but it was ruled out by the television match official for a knockon by Ardie Savea earlier in the movement.

The first fiveeighth’s haul eclipsed those of Frank Mitchinson (1907), Tom Lynch (1913) and Henry Taylor (1914), who all scored three tries for the All Blacks in a single test against Australia.

‘‘We respect this cup and respect what the Wallabies bring every week when we play them,’’ All Blacks captain Kieran Read said of retaining the trophy.

‘‘It doesn’t come easy for us; we have to work hard and the boys have to really put the effort in.

‘‘We’re very happy to have that cup.’’

As was the case in Sydney, the Wallabies were competitive in the first half and had looked to go into the halftime break locked at 77 until Barrett finished off a sweeping counterattack for his second try to give the hosts a sevenpoint lead.

The All Blacks, however, raised their intensity and pace in the second half, with Moody and Squire crashing over after the All Blacks had sent player after player smashing into defenders and recycling the ball at speed.

Hodge’s try came from an excellent scrum by his forwards, with Bernard Foley scooting to the blindside and getting outside halfback Aaron Smith to give his centre a clear run to the line.

The All Blacks, however, again exploited a tiring Wallabies side. Barrett added two more tries, his final fivepointer coming from another counterattack sparked by Damian McKenzie and Ben Smith deep inside their own territory.

‘‘Congrats to Kieran and his team; they again proved they can just keep putting the pressure on the entire game,’’ Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said.

‘‘I have got full belief in our team and our players. Something is not going right at the moment in certain parts of our game that we have to nut out.

‘‘But I am a firm believer in this team and have full confidence we can turn the corner.’’ — Reuters