All Blacks crush Wallabies in Tri Nations opener

New Zealand wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup with one game to spare as they crushed Australia by a final score of 43-5 in Sydney on Saturday. The contest doubled as the opener of the Tri Nations tournament, with the two sides to meet again in Brisbane next weekend.

By halftime the game was all but over as the All Blacks had built a 26-nil lead. Filipo Daugunu’s clumsy challenge on an airborne Caleb Clarke landed the Wallabies winger in the bin just three minutes into the match and Karl Tu’inukuafe crossed almost immediately as a result of the overlap.

Richie Mo’unga was in top form, touching down twice in a span of minutes to send shockwaves through their hosts. The merciless assault continued with a Dane Coles try stretching the lead further and leaving Australian fans to wonder if they should bother coming back for the second half.

The Wallabies came out of the intermission with some renewed energy and it was Noah Lolesio, on debut, who would take the goose egg off the scoreboard. He was unable to convert his own but the team had a bit of life in them.

There would be no comeback, however. Instead the game was stagnant until Mo’unga landed a penalty at the hour mark. Tries from Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett put the icing on the cake for the All Blacks who have been completely dominant since the stunning draw at Wellington just three weeks ago.

 

SCORING

AUSTRALIA 5
Tries – N. Lolesio (42′)
Cons – N. Lolesio 0/1
Yellow cards – F. Daugunu (3′)

NEW ZEALAND 43
Tries – K. Tu’inukuafe (5′), R. Mo’unga 2 (21′, 27′), D. Coles (30′), R. Ioane (71′), J. Barrett (74′)
Cons – R. Mo’unga 5/6 (6′, 28′, 31′, 72′, 75′)
Pens – R. Mo’unga 1/1 (60′)
Yellow cards – J. Barrett (9′), S. Frizell (80′)

 

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA
1 James Slipper (17 Scott Sio 60′), 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (16 Jordan Uelese 60′), 3 Allan Ala’alatoa (18 Taniela Tupou 54′), 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (19 Rob Simmons 45′), 5 Matt Philip, 6 Ned Hanigan, 7 Michael Hooper (capt.), 8 Harry Wilson (20 Fraser McReight 68′), 9 Nic White (21 Tate McDermott 60′), 10 Noah Lolesio (22 Reece Hodge 64′), 11 Marika Koribete, 12 Irae Simone (23 Hunter Paisami 54′-62′, 68′), 13 Jordan Petaia (12 Irae Simone 80′), 14 Filipo Daugunu, 15 Dane Haylett-Petty

NEW ZEALAND
1 Karl Tu’inukuafe (17 Alex Hodgman 46′), 2 Dane Coles (16 Codie Taylor 46′), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi (18 Tyrel Lomax 58′), 4 Patrick Tu’ipulotu (19 Scott Barrett 55′), 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (capt.) (20 Dalton Papali’i 68′), 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Aaron Smith (21 TJ Perenara 55′), 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jack Goodhue (22 Ngani Laumape 60′), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Jordie Barrett, 15 Beauden Barrett (23 Rieko Ioane 66′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistants: Paul Williams (New Zealand) & Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Angus Gardner (Australia)