The All Blacks defeated the Wallabies 33-13 in the second Bledisloe Cup test held in Wellington, marking their final home match of the year. This victory ends a six-year winless streak for the All Blacks in the city and concludes their Rugby Championship campaign with a record of three wins and three losses.
Team captain Scott Barrett expressed his relief at securing a win in Wellington, acknowledging the challenging start but praising the team’s strong finish and defensive resilience against the Australian side. He noted, “We just talked about owning our effort really and it showed there on our line, pleasing to not let them in.”
The All Blacks also broke their trend of failing to score in the last quarter of matches during the Rugby Championship, with second-half tries from Tamaiti Williams and Caleb Clarke. Former captain Sam Cane celebrated his milestone of playing 100 tests and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to mark this achievement in New Zealand.
Cane commended the performance of younger players, stating, “They are pretty special athletes, getting better and better.” This match also marked the last appearance for both Cane and TJ Perenara in the All Blacks jersey, with Barrett highlighting their contributions to the team.
On the Wallabies’ side, captain Harry Wilson reflected on a disappointing campaign despite having moments of promise during the game. The Wallabies initially pressured the All Blacks and scored first with a try from Fraser McReight, taking an early lead.
The All Blacks responded with tries from Sevu Reece and Will Jordan, eventually taking the lead before halftime with a try from Caleb Clarke. In the second half, the All Blacks maintained control, scoring additional tries from Tamaiti Williams and Clarke.
Despite a late push from the Wallabies, the All Blacks’ defense held firm, and the match concluded with the All Blacks securing a compelling victory, finishing their Rugby Championship on a high note.