In a roller-coaster season in which every epic win has been followed by a crushing defeat, the Wallabies had a heavy hand in the Bledisloe Cup until a strange last-minute decision by referee Mathieu Raynal turned their historic 37-34 victory in a heartbreaking 39-37. defeat
It was a terrible result for rugby and consigns Australia to their 20th straight Bledisloe series defeat. Despite a season-best performance marred by an officiating decision that will be debated for decades, Australia now sink to a world-worst ranking of ninth.
The signs were good from the start. The Wallabies attacked the Haka, advancing their boomerang formation to combat the war dance. But when the toss came, New Zealand stepped up first. Wallaby lock Jed Holloway missed the throw in the smoke, a costly mistake compounded by two silly penalties in two minutes. Twice the All Blacks dropped three to chase five. And in the fourth minute a dozen black shirts came close to put them ahead 7-0.
In a season of poor starts, Australia had made another mistake. All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga was chipping behind the lines, creating havoc, while Beauden Barrett dropped bombs that the Wallabies couldn’t catch. After ten minutes, Australia had only had 10% possession. When captain James Slipper fell at the first scrum, it became 10-0.
Australia finally got hold of the ball and slowly made progress, staggering from ruck to ruck with little progress. Then Rob Leota won a collision, PeteSamu stole and Dave Porecki of all people chased the kick to put the All Blacks in their own quarter for the second time in the entire quarter.
Now the Wallabies ran the line, quick hands at nice angles bending the defenders. Australia won a penalty, brought it back to 10-3 and then entered the red zone from a free kick. They went wide, a deft touch from Len Ikitau created an overlap and Andrew Kellaway rose, only for the try to be disallowed when a breeze of grass was detected between the ball and the turf. no attempt
But the tide was changing. Australia collapsed an All Black scrum 12 meters out. Slipper didn’t want three. His team was on the rise and he wanted the points to show it. He got them. In the 25th minute, the Gold Rush turned right and Jake Gordon fed Rob Valetini on the fly. The Melbourne No 8 crashed through Sam Whitelock to score and square it at 10-10.
All Blacks players celebrate after retaining the Bledisloe Cup. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Australia had its tail up. They were level on score and winning the clinches and the All Blacks bench was busy with many concussed soldiers including captain Sam Cane. Valetini then did it again, hitting Barrett in the back and stealing the pill. When the scrum held and Samu broke. A drop kick set up a corner siege, but after 14 steady phases, the All Blacks fumbled and the chance slipped away.
With him went the impulse. Tom Wright got a yellow card, and then Darcy Swain too. Australia were reduced to 13 men. Still they held on. New Zealand hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho rose but, writhing under him, Gordon forced a strike. He rocked the All Blacks. Twice they hit the cold with the open line to go to the half 10-10.
With two still in the bin, Australia started the second half just like the first, badly. After three minutes, tackle Taukei’aho had crashed in to make it 17-10. Although Foley kicked a penalty to make it 17-13, the All Blacks upped the ante and dared the home side to go with them. they couldn’t First, Mo’unga’s angled run eluded Foley’s tackle and minutes later Beauden Barrett fired over Will Jordan’s line and suddenly it was 31-13.
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All black eyes were smiling, but Australia refused to budge. Calm but conservative, Foley’s flat passes and wrists picked up speed and he put Kellaway away to make it 31-20. They then teamed up again, going right this time, the ginger wing crashing over for his fifth try in four games for Bledisloe.
With 12 minutes to play, it was a four-point margin. An All Black penalty made it seven. But then Australia attacked down the thin side, Marika Koroibete and Samu going up the line and passing back and forth to bring it back to 34-32. Foley the Iceman got the 34-all.
With six minutes to go, empty benches and both teams breathing hard, the teams went head-to-head. The All Blacks blinked first, but Valetini stole it on the halfway line. Penal Australia. Foley shook his head. Too far away. In comes Nic White, bristling as his moustache, rising to kick it 50 yards out and put them in front for the first time.
But the All Blacks came back, won a penalty. But their ego got the better of them. They rejected all three and went for five. But it backfired, Australia won the ruck. But then a ridiculous twist. Foley was penalized for wasting time. The All Blacks took the scrum. As the siren sounded, Australia scrambled again and again, but the All Blacks found space and went close in the corner.
The fickle hand of fate had turned upon Australia in the cruelest way. A terrible result for rugby. Now Australia must march in disbelief to Eden Park, where they have not won since 1986. Australia’s crowd, coach and captains were speechless. But it was a bitter defeat.