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AUS vs NZL
The Rugby Championship
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Australia
vs
New Zealand
28
FT
31
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 28 - 31
The two sides now head across to Wellington for what will be an intriguing rematch at Sky Stadium next Saturday night. Stay with Tribe for all the action from the Rugby Championship. This is Anthony Morgan signing off.
Australia will be disappointed to let the Bledisloe Cup slip through their fingers for another year but they will be happy with the way they fought back and kept the All Blacks try-less in the second half. Fraser McReight was immense all day on both sides of the ball while in the backs Tom Wright and Hunter Paisami threatened the New Zealand defence with their footwork. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Langi Gleeson brought huge impact from the bench.
It was a tale of two halves for the All Blacks as their attack cut the Wallabies to shreds in an impressive first half showing. The second was a much tighter affair with the Wallabies scrambling well. Cortez Ratima impressed in a solid 58-minute stint at halfback while in the forwards Wallace Sititi was in everything. Sititi made a couple of breaks and created some havoc with offloads in contact. He was strong on defence as well and he came up with a pivotal breakdown steal to deny Fraser McReight late in the match.
The All Blacks' last quarter woes continued but they did enough in the first half to hold off a fast-finishing Wallabies side to win 28-31. Leading 14-28 at halftime, New Zealand extended their lead to 17 points through a Damian McKenzie penalty in the 45th minute. Desperate Wallabies defence denied Ardie Savea in the 52nd before the All Blacks were denied a 'Try of the Year' contender five minutes later. A brilliant breakout by McKenzie and Will Jordan saw Codie Taylor send Cortez Ratima away for the corner. A forward pass by McKenzie in the lead up let Australia off the hook and from there the momentum swung wildly back towards the hosts. Hunter Paisami slipped through to score in the 66th minute as New Zealand were forced to hang on grimly after Anton Lienert-Brown and Caleb Clarke were sent to the sin bin. A late try to Tom Wright set up a Grandstand finish but in the end the Wallabies just ran out of time.
80+2'
NEW ZEALAND HOLD ON! Savea takes it off the back of the scrum and zips off to the right where he kicks it into touch to seal a tight win for the All Blacks in Sydney.
80'
Paisami brings it back from the restart as surges up towards his 10m line on a powerful 25m run. Perenara and Savea combine to hold him up however and the Wallabies are unable to free it. New Zealand with the scrum feed 38m out.
80'
Lolesio converts from 10m in from the right touchline.
28-31 N. Lolesio
Conversion
80'
79'
WRIGHT SETS UP A GRANDSTAND FINISH! Wilson and Bell take runs in the midfield before Wilson has another crack on the fifth phase. Quick hands find Pietsch who is cut down just short of the goal line on the left. Wilson has another surge as the Wallabies recycle quickly and swing it right to Wright who goes over to score in the tackle of McKenzie.