There was plenty for head coach Scott Robertson to like about his team’s 28-14 victory over Australia in Perth early this morning, the first time they have strung back-to-back victories together in this Rugby Championship.
Robertson rolled the dice on several of his selections at Optus Stadium and they all paid off – not least Quinn Tupaea at centre in his first Test in Australia in three years since suffering a gruesome knee injury in a Bledisloe Cup match in Melbourne.
Tupaea scored two tries in three first-half minutes – the first backing up a Jordie Barrett “header” assist and the second after he was alert to a quick Will Jordan penalty tap and put a powerful fend on the hapless Tom Hooper.
Hooper had earlier been sent to the sinbin for a horrendous cleanout in which he twisted Barrett in an illegal “croc roll” and fell on to the second-five’s leg – an incident eerily similar to the one in which former lock Darcy Swain ruptured Tupaea’s medial collateral ligament in 2022.
Hooper’s act was picked up by the foul play official and what made it worse for the blindside flanker was that it ruled out a try for Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa in what was virtually the only time the visitors’ defence was breached in the first half.
Tupaea, in for Billy Proctor, was solid defensively and helped get Leroy Carter to the line for the All Blacks’ first try of the night. It was wing Carter’s third Test try in his third appearance for the All Blacks.
One could say Tupaea, oddly replaced after 57 minutes by Rieko Ioane, was making up for lost time and so was left wing Leicester Fainga’anku in his first Test since the 2023 World Cup.
Fainga’anuku was all power and aggression as expected, and No.8 Peter Lakai, who got the nod ahead of Wallace Sititi, got through his work well too.
The All Blacks, who scored four tries to one in total and led 17-9 at halftime, had a greater balance on attack than the Wallabies and kicked far better in the deteriorating weather conditions.
Jordie Barrett led the way here with his nudges through the defensive line in what was another impressive performance, one made all the better for the fact Damian McKenzie was not having his best Test inside him.
First-five McKenzie missed four shots at goal, missed a penalty touch-finder and, while he defended well, he did not press his case in the injury absence of Beauden Barrett.
It was the All Blacks’ 11th straight victory over the Wallabies and there was little doubt the home side were hampered badly by the departure after 15 minutes of Will Skelton, who left the field with a head injury and failed his concussion test.
Skelton had shown his cards early with a push on halfback Cam Roigard which earned the ire of referee Matthew Carley and the Wallabies missed his bulk and aggression up front because, while they had success at the breakdown, they were second-best in the set piece.
Tane Edmed, in for James O'Connor at No.10 after the Wallabies' defeat at Eden Park last weekend, had a mixed evening but is clearly a long-term prospect. If anything, the blame for this loss should rest on the All Blacks' greater accuracy and discipline - two qualities not usually associated with this team.
The Wallabies' Achilles heel this year has been their poor starts and they were at it again in Perth. Chasing a Test match is tough enough by itself - doing it in torrential rain is near impossible, although they showed admirable resolve again.
While Robertson's men conceded 14 penalties - the same as the Wallabies - second-five Len Ikitau's departure to the sinbin in the second half for a head clash in a tackle on Jordie Barrett made Australia's task much tougher.
So there was no second-half or final-quarter collapse from the All Blacks and Robertson, considering a difficult northern tour against Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland, was clearly thrilled with the performance.
There were signs that his attack is beginning to find cohesion – even despite the re-jigged backline – and defensively they were very good.
They will be annoyed at letting in Ikitau for the Wallabies’ only try – a close-range lunge for the line after the All Blacks contested a lineout near their own line and ultimately paid the price which conceding metres in the resulting maul.
But they will be overjoyed with the finale.
Attempting to keep their Rugby Championship hopes alive by scoring the try which would give them a bonus point victory, the All Blacks showed a huge amount of accuracy and composure in the final minutes to get replacement prop George Bower across the line.
All Blacks 28 (Quinn Tupaea 2, Leroy Carter, George Bower tries; Damian McKenzie con, 2 pens)
Wallabies 14 (Len Ikitau try; Tane Edmed 3 pens)
Halftime: 17-9
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