Match Report: All Blacks v Wallabies | Bledisloe Cup, Game Two

What started as near 40 minutes of perfection for a 36-7 lead for the All Blacks descended into a bemusing trial of the laws of rugby, leaving the All Blacks with 14 men for the last 12 minutes, then 13 with four minutes left.

Because they had used their bench, and then lost another player to injury, they were required to finish with 14. Then debut wing Chay Fihaki was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle on Australian centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

The All Blacks dominated the first 40 minutes, claiming a 13th consecutive win over the Australians.

However, the All Blacks punished earlier first-half opportunities hard. First, a turnover by flanker Peter Lakai in the All Blacks’ goalmouth ended a powerful 14-phase assault deep into the 22, and within seconds the All Blacks transported the ball to the other end with an outstanding display of handling and support play.

Putting together 15 phases of their own, the men in black surged downfield with Lakai, locks Fabian Holland and Scott Barrett, and No. No8 Wallace Sititi, all running with purpose, before wing Josh Moorby picked up a bounced pass from McKenzie and slipped a tackle to score after 11 minutes.

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Australia again got themselves in a position to respond with a five-metre lineout after a penalty kick to the corner. But they knocked the ball on while trying to build an attack, and the All Blacks ran it out, building continuity.

McKenzie’s speed in distribution and support created another chance for Lakai, who took the ball, beat three defenders, and was stopped short of the line. The ball was released, and fullback Beauden Barrett broke through a gap to score after 17 minutes.

Lakai enjoyed his reward as more dazzling All Blacks interplay carried them back downfield at speed, and the ever-present flanker scored three minutes later.

Then, with wing Will Jordan already having been in the thick of action on the end of the line, he went looking for wing on the opposite flank, took a double round pass from McKenzie and gave replacement centre Rieko Ioane the time and space to work an in-out on fullback Tom Wright to go across out wide in the 25th minute.

Ioane had replaced Quinn Tupaea when he hit his head on the ground in a tackle and eventually failed an HIA.

It wasn’t all bad for Australia. When the All Blacks failed to retain the ball from the restart, Australia rumbled it downfield through 11 phases, and lock Jeremy Williams blasted his way over near the posts. But within two minutes, Williams blotted his copybook and was yellow-carded for the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Taking the scrum option, the All Blacks scrum gave Sititi the perfect platform, and he launched himself from the back for a classic No8 scrum try.

Compounding the Australian misery in the last minute of the half, a promising attack was picked off when Beauden Barrett intercepted and had the legs to run 70 metres to score and give the All Blacks a 36-7 halftime lead.

More woes for Australia came early in the second half when they dropped ball that was cleared up by Moorby. He gave the ball to second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai, who barrelled his way downfield.

From the ruck, Taylor gave Moorby a superb ball. He stopped, looked to pass inside, then found the defence had halted, leaving him enough room to continue down the sideline for his second try.

A hint of what the Australians were capable of came when fullback Tom Wright gave wing Max Jorgensen the chance to use his footwork before Harry Potter stopped him just short of the line, but the ball emerged for Wright to finish what he had started.

The daytime conditions suited both sides' attacking mindsets, with play moving back and forth from the outset. Australia looked sharp, with inexperienced first five-eighth Declan Meredith connecting well with his outside backs.

Meredith displayed dynamism, especially speed, reminiscent of Stephen Larkham at his best. Late in the game, what should have been a try-scoring break from 40m out was denied by All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard, who got his leg in the way of Meredith putting the ball over for a try.

Moments later he got under All Blacks replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho to deny him a try-scoring chance. Australia reclaimed the ball and saw fullback Tom Wright and Meredith combine to set up a 66th-minute try by replacement wing Filipo Daugunu.

Even down to 13 men at the end, the All Blacks contained everything Australia threw at them, but they still have plenty to think about ahead of their northern tour.

Scoring Summary: All Blacks v Wallabies, Sydney

Australia 21 (Jeremy Williams, Tom Wright, Filipo Daugunu tries; Ryan Lonergan 2 con; Declan Meredith con) New Zealand 43 (Josh Moorby 2, Beauden Barrett 2, Peter Lakai, Rieko Ioane, Wallace Sititi tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con). HT: 36-7