The All Blacks have held their nerve under fire from a fast-finishing Wallabies to defend their Eden Park record and retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year with a 33-24 victory tonight.
It was not comfortable in the slightest for the home side, despite them leading 20-3 just after the first quarter.
Hampered by injuries to Beauden Barrett, Ethan de Groot and Caleb Clarke, and a Wallabies team which played with almost unbelievable resilience despite a poor kicking performance from James O’Connor, this was a fight to the end.
In the finish it was outstanding halfback Cam Roigard’s second try with five minutes remaining – and visiting right wing Harry Potter off for a yellow card after a team warning – which sealed it for the All Blacks.
It meant the now almost traditional second-half collapse from this All Blacks team did not manifest itself, but, after the Wallabies got to within two points, various thoughts must have been swirling around head coach Scott Robertson’s head.
On the whole, this was a far better performance after the calamity against the Boks at the Cake Tin.
It must be said that Roigard, in his first Rugby Championship match of the season after returning from a foot injury, made a huge difference.
His sniping runs from the base of the ruck had the Wallabies concerned all night and it transformed his team’s attack. Roigard’s kicking game was also excellent, as evidenced by a hugely valuable 50-22 in the second half.
Clarke, who scored the All Blacks’ first try, also made a huge impact on his first appearance of the year – after he watched his dad Eroni put in an excellent performance on the microphone when singing the anthem beforehand.
With Leroy Carter also dotting down in the first half and again hugely energetic, and the All Blacks’ set piece vastly improved, this was a deserved victory for the home side against a Wallabies team which started the Test on top of the Rugby Championship table.
Skipper Ardie Savea, who finished the match with his head wrapped in a bandage after a head clash, was again outstanding, with Tupou Vaa’i again putting in a strong performance at lock and Fabian Holland ruling the lineout. That set piece in particular was hugely improved.
It was all looking rosy for the All Blacks until Barrett’s shoulder injury just over 26 minutes into the Test.
Up 20-3, having scored through Clarke, Carter and Roigard, and the Wallabies appeared unsure about how to get a foothold into the game.
They were second best at the breakdown, were giving away more penalties than the home side, and were not as defending as well.
Roigard, an ever-present threat, was pulling the strings superbly for the All Blacks and a big score looked likely.
But, without blaming Barrett’s replacement Damian McKenzie, Barrett’s withdrawal when putting the ball down in what looked an innocuous incident, coincided with a huge change in his team’s fortunes.
Suddenly, referee Andrea Piardi was spotting All Blacks making illegal entries to rucks, Sua’ali’i was starting to make his presence felt, and the Aussies got a roll on.
First, hooker Billy Pollard went over from close range for a converted try and then wing Harry Potter took advantage of a defensive line that was stretched beyond repair.
In the space of 13 minutes, the All Blacks’ 17-point advantage was all but gone.
Two penalties from McKenzie helped the All Blacks extend their lead to 26-17 but a converted try for Carlo Tizzano try from a driving maul with 11 minutes remaining set the match up for a nailbiting conclusion for a side that has not been convincing finishers this year.
Roigard’s try by the posts after a break by replacement Quinn Tupaea all but put the result to rest. Australia's drought at this ground - they last won at Eden Park in 1986 - continues.
The Bledisloe Cup has been retained for the 23rd year, the Wallabies with only Rugby Championship points to play for in Perth next Saturday.
All Blacks 33 (Caleb Clarke, Leroy Carter, Cam Roigard 2 tries; Beauden Barrett pen, con; Damian McKenzie 2 pens, con)
Wallabies 24 (Billy Pollard, Harry Potter, Carlo Tizzano tries; James O’Connor pen, 3 cons)
Halftime: 20-17
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