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Australia brought the best bench performance in the brief Joe Schmidt era as they completely flipped the script on two weeks earlier in a gallant loss to the All Blacks in Sydney.
Huge impacts from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson and Brandon Paenga-Amosa from the bench saw Australia finish three points off the All Blacks at 31-28 having trailled 21-0 and then 28-7 within the opening 25 minutes of the match.
The second half comeback after being down 28-14 at the break was a compete reversal on the 67-27 defeat in Argentina two weeks ago where Joe Schmidt’s team lost the second half 50-7.
“Obviously gutted not getting a result there, giving a 21-0 head start to All Blacks is always going to make it tough for us but super proud of the effort, the way we fought back there,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson.
Matt Faessler of the Australian Wallabies dives over to score a try during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between Australia Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks at Accor Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“A massive shout out to the crowd, 70,000 people here supporting us it really did lift us there and I hope everyone here saw and everyone at home saw how much this jersey means to us. We’re working bloody hard for something and gutted not to get a result but I’m so proud of everyone.”
All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett knew his team got away with one. Australia had all the momentum in the second half as the Kiwis difficulties in the final 20 minutes of games continued.
“It’s a big relief,” said Barrett. “It’s the nature of the Aussies, they don’t lay down and they showed how desperate they are to get their hands on the Cup.
“We were a bit wounded coming back from South Africa and confidence low but the boys came back with energy.”
The win secured the Bledisloe Cup and moved coach Scott Robertson to a 5-3 record and should ease some pressure on the new coach. Joe Schmidt now has a 4-4 record.
“Razor and the squad are feeling that pressure its not from a lack of trying, but we’re certainly not polished by any means,” said Barrett.
Schmidt was left to rue a poor start to the game as the Australian defence was shredded.
“I just felt we gave up too many line breaks. We were too loose with the ball and they’re so dangerous in turnover balls, so we just had to make sure we were looking after the ball,” said Schmidt.
“Our lineout probably came under a bit of pressure because we got a few field positions that we were hopeful to make a bit of a difference with and we didn’t quite do that. One of the things with the All Blacks is you’ve got to nail opportunities that you do get. First time we got down here, we put a nice set play together to get the seven, to get a little bit of confidence. And in the second half, we put a few things together.
“I think belief takes a while to build. And I just felt we gained a bit of confidence. And as long as we can keep building on that confidence, because I thought we were a little bit static in the first half.”
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Fraser McReight was one of the Wallabies best in his first Rugby Championship appearance of the season and summed up the disappointment having pushed brilliantly in the second half.
“It sucks, we’re grieving. It’s tough,” McReight said.
The All Blacks exploded into action with a try in just 92 seconds and despite the comfortable win they will be kicking themselves that they didn’t do more damage to the Wallabies, allowing their foes a sniff in the second half.
They had three tries disallowed – including a potential try of the year contender that was called back when Rob Valetini’s desperation forced Damian McKenzie into a forward pass.
Jordie Barrett was denied a try right before the break after blasting through a Noah Lolesio tackle with Australia looking lucky to have escaped with a tight knock on call in the build-up, while desperate defence from Lolesio, Wilson and Nic White stopped Ardie Savea after the No.8 powered over.
“Wallabies may have done the impossible, you don’t stop Ardie Savea scoring from that close to the line, as good as he is,” said Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport.
The All Blacks blew at least three other clear chances, with Rieko Ioane and McKenzie both guilty of over elaborating when calmer heads would have created five-pointers.
The Wallabies’ defensive resistance was improved after conceding 28 points in the opening 25 minutes, with scrum coach Mike Cron typically blunt at halftime.
“We’ve just got to get bloody harder on D and a bit quicker into position and come on up,” said Cron.
“We’re just letting them have far too much bloody room for their skill level. They’re not picking us off, so we’ve just got to get up and get in their face a hell of a lot better in the second half.”
The All Blacks led 28-14 at the break with six tries in the game, and just about able to hold the Wallabies at arms length in the second term despite a nervous conclusion as the Wallabies stormed home.
“It’s one helluva comeback and Wallaby fans must be very proud,” said former Wallaby Tim Horan.
“We’re good starters, aren’t we?” joked a relieved Robertson.
“We’ve looked heavily at how we can finish Test matches a little bit more positively. We kept them back in it because we just couldn’t finish and keep the pressure on them. And like any good Aussie team, they won’t go away. So it had everything.”
