Rampant All Blacks reassert dominance
World champions run in eight tries to start championship defence with bonus-point win
>> SYDNEY: The world champions All Blacks rebounded spectacularly to down the Wallabies 54-34 and plunge Australian rugby further into despair in the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney last night.
It was New Zealand’s biggest score against Australia, eclipsing their 51-20 win in Auckland three years ago and puts them well on the way to holding on to the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup, which they have held since 2003.
New Zealand’s inability to put away the British and Irish Lions in their drawn home series last month had raised doubts whether the All Blacks’ era of dominance was on the wane.
But the All Blacks roared back to outclass the Wallabies eight tries to four in a dynamic performance to start their title defence with a bonuspoint win.
While the Wallabies added some respectability to the final score after trailing 54-6 with four tries in the final half-hour the contest was well and truly over after the first 50 minutes.
“It was pretty surreal that first half to be honest. We came here to play our game and it really came off. It was a pretty awesome first half,” New Zealand captain Kieran Read said.
“It came about by the doing the simple things. We carried really hard and exploited a few gaps out wide.”
The All Blacks demoralised the tackle-shy Wallabies with a sixtry opening half to have the game wrapped up by half-time after a 40-6 landslide.
“It is not the start we would have hoped for,” said Australia captain Michael Hooper. “Being 50 points behind, you start to throw everything we had, I’m so happy with that.”
While the Australians l ooked promising in attack they were clueless in defence with the world champions looking capable of scoring in every attacking phase.
The Wallabies left the field to stunned silence with their already tenuous Bledisloe Cup hopes in tatters with the All Blacks at home in Dunedin next week.
The All Blacks scored their first try with quick passes from skipper Kieran Read and winger Rieko Ioane to give blindside flanker Liam Squire a clear run to the try-line.
Bernard Foley kicked the Wallabies to trail by a point with a 17th-minute penalty after the All Blacks scrum was penalised.
But the All Blacks again found a way through the Australian defence when left winger Ioane got on the outside of floundering Israel Folau to score for a 12-6 lead midway through the half.
Ioane was over again minutes later when Michael Hooper’s pass went astray and Ryan Crotty sent Ioane racing away between the posts.
The Wallabies defence was shredded again and Crotty scored an easy try near the posts after Beauden Barrett handled twice in the lead-up.
The New Zealanders claimed their fifth try just before half-time when Sonny Bill Williams crashed over and Barrett’s conversion stretched the world champions’ lead to 33-6.
The All Blacks made a mockery of the threadbare Australian defence with a sixth try off a training ground move and a double to centre Crotty after a scrum win deep inside the Wallabies’ territory.
Barrett’s conversion gave the All Blacks a 40-6 lead at half-time.
It got no better with full-back Damian McKenzie scoring his first Test try three minutes after the resumption and Barrett’s sixth conversion extended the lead to 47-6.
Winger Ben Smith’s try hoisted the All Blacks to their highest ever score against the Wallabies 54-6 and with still 30 minutes left.
Debutant winger Curtis Rona finally scored Australia’s first try after 52 minutes and further tries to replacement Tevita Kuridrani and a runaway from Kurtley Beale gave the home supporters something to cheer.
Israel Folau crossed for Australia’s fourth try 11 minutes from the end.