All Blacks' second-half show overpowers Wallabies

Caleb Clarke scored a double for New Zealand in the All Blacks' 33-13 win over the Wallabies. (Andrew Cornaga/AAP PHOTOS)

The All Blacks have swept the Bledisloe Cup series with a 33-13 win over the Wallabies, showing their class after an early Australian assault.

The Wallabies led as late as the 40th minute and starved the All Blacks of the ball in a much-improved first-half showing in Wellington on Saturday.

New Zealand flipped the switch after the break, denying Australia even a second-half point.

Caleb Clarke doubled up in a brilliant display of line-breaking rugby, with Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and Tamaiti Williams also scoring tries in the bonus-point win.

Fraser McReight scored the Wallabies' only try as their night fizzled out in an all-too familiar story.

This was a 30th match in New Zealand without success for Australia over their arch-rivals, and their ninth straight loss anywhere to the All Blacks.

The win snapped a rare home hoodoo for the All Blacks, who were winless in the capital in five Tests.

It also allowed a fitting farewell for Sam Cane, in his 100th Test, and hometown hero TJ Perenara in their last home internationals.

Australia will finish bottom of the Rugby Championship standings - and by a distance - but their first half on Saturday was possibly their best under Joe Schmidt.

The Wallabies were unrecognisable from the side that shipped three tries in the opening 15 minutes in Sydney, with smart passing and gut-running that put the All Blacks under pressure.

"They played some good footy, man," All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.

"They started pretty well, didn't they, the Aussies, so you've got to give it to them."

Australia should have scored in the third minute when Andrew Kellaway's kick eluded both Jordan and Beauden Barrett, only for Jake Gordon to fumble a metre from home.

Fraser McReight scored for the Wallabies.
Fraser McReight scored for the Wallabies, but the All Blacks claimed victory in Wellington.

After 14 phases, McReight cashed in to give the Wallabies an eighth-minute lead, duly converted by Noah Lolesio.

The Wallabies' aggression was made plain by Dylan Pietsch - who impressed on his first Test start - smashing into the towering Rieko Ioane in the hunt for territory.

The All Blacks had barely touched it but replied courtesy of the twinkle toes of Wallace Sititi, who broke through and allowed Reece to go over after 16 minutes.

A Barrett miss and a Lolesio penalty put the score at 5-10, before Jordan broke Harry Wilson's tackle to race inside and score another try.

Clarke made sure of a half-time lead after another run through the guts in the 41st minute, the scoreboard reading 19-13 at the interval.

The All Blacks had a penalty in front of goal, but opted not to kick because Scott Barrett said they "sensed a moment" to go "for a decent blow, a headshot".

Robertson said it was "really important ... a big swing", and Schmidt agreed.

"That try just before half-time was a pretty tough blow to take," he said.

Scott Barrett's pre-game plea to hold more of the ball fell on deaf ears, with Australia enjoying 68 per cent possession in the opening stanza.

Sevu Reece of New Zealand celebrates a try.
Sevu Reece was one of the try-scorers in the All Blacks' 33-13 win over the Wallabies.

The All Blacks kept their heads after the break, pushing over through substitute Williams just before the hour mark.

Two tries to the good and with Australia's intensity having faded, New Zealand looked safe but had another box to tick: scoring late points.

Incredibly, the Kiwis hadn't scored in the final 20 minutes of any of their five Rugby Championship clashes, but Clarke changed that when he stormed over after 64 minutes.

Clarke ended the match in the bin after infringing in an offside position, but it was too late for Australia to reply.

A 31-28 win in Sydney meant the Bledisloe Cup was already in New Zealand's safekeeping for a 22nd straight year.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store