Introduction
All Blacks Extend Record Dominance in aus-v-nz-rugby Clash at Optus Stadium New Zealand defeated Australia 28-14 in Perth on Saturday in a physical final fixture of The Rugby Championship, securing their eleventh consecutive victory over their trans-Tasman rivals and cementing a season sweep of the Bledisloe Cup. The All Blacks navigated treacherous wet conditions at Optus Stadium to secure the four-tries-to-one victory, matching the longest winning streak in the history of the fixture between the two nations. While the result was not ultimately enough to secure New Zealand the Rugby Championship title—which was retained by South Africa on points difference—it underlined the persistent structural gulf that the Wallabies have been unable to bridge in recent years. The match also marked an emotional farewell for veteran Australia prop James Slipper, who played his 151st and final Test match. The contest began with a level of intensity commensurate with the historic rivalry, despite the Bledisloe Cup having been secured by New Zealand the previous week in Auckland. Australia started with territorial dominance, translating pressure into points through the accurate boot of fly-half Tane Edmed, who slotted three early penalty goals to build a 9-7 lead after the opening quarter. This early success suggested the Wallabies were determined to send off Slipper with a rare victory against their formidable opponents. However, a brief lapse in discipline and focus proved highly costly for the home side. New Zealand capitalised on this, with centre Quinn Tupaea exploiting gaps in the defensive line to score two clinical, consecutive tries just three minutes apart late in the first half.
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These crucial five-pointers, combined with the conversion of the first by Damian McKenzie, suddenly swung the momentum and allowed the All Blacks to take a 17-9 lead into the interval, despite Australia enjoying slightly more possession and territory across the opening 40 minutes. The Wallabies' second-half efforts to turn the tide were marred by ill-discipline and bad luck. Lock Will Skelton, returning from France for the fixture, lasted only 15 minutes before being forced off with a concussion. Later, Australia suffered key yellow cards—one for flanker Tom Hooper in the first half and another for centre Len Ikitau in the second—leaving them frequently disadvantaged. Despite this, a period of sustained pressure saw Ikitau cross the line for Australia’s only try in the 65th minute, narrowing the gap to 20-14. New Zealand, however, showcased the experience and management that has defined their dominance. In the final quarter, fly-half McKenzie successfully kicked a penalty to extend the lead beyond a single score. Their pragmatic approach to the rain-soaked conditions paid dividends, focusing on strong defensive sets and territorial kicking. The victory was sealed in the 80th minute when replacement prop George Bower powered over for the All Blacks' fourth try, concluding the scoring at 28-14.
Speaking after the defeat, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson pushed back against suggestions that his side had simply been 'competitive. ' “We’re not out to be competitive, mate, we’re here to win,” Wilson told reporters. “Test footy, it’s fine margins and obviously we missed out. We’ve definitely progressed, but ultimately we didn’t get the results in the last few games which we wanted, which is really disappointing. ” His frustration was echoed by Max Jorgensen, who pointed directly to execution under pressure. “A lot of silly errors that we need to get out of our game,” Jorgensen noted. “You can’t be making those mistakes. If you want to be the best team in the world you’ve got to be at your best at every aspect of the game. ” All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson, meanwhile, focused on the resilience of his squad.
“It was a gritty performance; it got a bit dirty in the rain,” Robertson said. “It wasn’t the most entertaining footy at times, but it was built on a lot of shoulders and care. We demonstrated mental toughness and grit to shut out Australia when they came back at us. ” Outlook The result confirms New Zealand’s continued supremacy in the Bledisloe Cup, which they retain for a 23rd consecutive year. For Australia, the match concluded a Rugby Championship campaign that saw them register a 2-4 record, finishing third in the standings. The recurring issue of disciplinary lapses and consequential errors against top-tier opposition remains a primary concern for the coaching staff as they now prepare for their end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour. The Wallabies are under increasing pressure to deliver strong performances abroad to improve their world ranking ahead of the draw for the next Rugby World Cup. New Zealand will also head north, aiming to build momentum and depth following their adaptable performance in Perth.
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