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The All Blacks crushed the Wallabies 42-8 in a scintillating display on Saturday
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New Zealand led 32-3 at the break after tries from Ryan Crotty, Beauden Barrett, Jerome Kaino and Waisake Naholo
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Dane Coles and Ardie Savea added further scores to secure the dominant win for the men in black
A breathtaking performance by New Zealand saw them demolish Australia 42-8 in a one-sided Rugby Championship opener on Saturday.
The build-up to the game was spiced up with the revelation that a listening device was found in a meeting room in New Zealand’s Sydney hotel, but on the evidence of the match the question should be asked – who bugged who?
The legendary All Black quartet of Captain Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith concluded their international careers in 2015 but their new crop put the Wallabies to the sword with a scintillating performance.
It was the first time the two nations had clashes since last year’s Rugby World Cup final and New Zealand, who were 34-17 victors on that day to lift the Webb Ellis Cup were surprisingly behind early on after Bernard Foley slotted a penalty after just three minutes.
The All Blacks weren’t behind long as Ryan Crotty skipped down the touchline to put New Zealand ahead after six minutes before Beauden Barrett, who’d already amassed six points from the tee, added a second try as well as the conversion to put the men in black 20-3 ahead after 27 minutes.
Further tries followed for the visitors with Whitelock breaching the line after 34 minutes before powerhouse winger Waisake Naholo secured the bonus point just before the break. Barrett couldn’t convert the first but sailed over the second to give New Zealand a 32-3 lead at the break in Sydney.
The second half was less lively and for a while it looked as if Australia would be able to limit the damage, but another basic error saw Dane Coles reach over for a try before Julian Savea celebrated his 40th Test try shortly after. before Phipps scored a consolation try for Australia against 14 men after read had been sent off.
Phipps scored a consolation try for Australia late on against 14 men after Kieran Read had been sent off.
NEW ZEALAND: BEAUDEN BARRETT
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Dane Haylett-Petty, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Scott Fardy, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Rob Horne
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Julian Savea
