The All Blacks secured a decisive 33-13 victory over the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup test held in Wellington, marking their final home game of the year.
This win breaks a six-year winless streak for the All Blacks in Wellington and concludes their Rugby Championship campaign with three wins and three losses. Team captain Scott Barrett expressed his relief at finally winning in Wellington, stating, “I’m really pleased to reverse the curse. We didn’t start too well but I am really pleased with how we finished, showing grit on defense.”
After struggling to score in the final quarter throughout the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks ended that trend with second-half tries from Tamaiti Williams and another from Caleb Clarke. Barrett added, “We just talked about owning our effort, which showed on our line. It’s nice to finish on a high at home.”
Former captain Sam Cane achieved a personal milestone by playing his 100th test match. He expressed gratitude for being able to reach this achievement at home, commenting on the atmosphere in Wellington. Cane praised the younger players in the team for their outstanding performances during the tournament.
The match was also significant as it marked the final appearance for both Cane and TJ Perenara in the All Blacks jersey, with Barrett acknowledging the legacies they leave behind.
Despite moments of promise, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson deemed the campaign disappointing. He noted that the team missed opportunities to score, especially towards the end of the match.
The test began with the Wallabies showing early aggression, resulting in a try by Fraser McReight in the eighth minute. Following that, the All Blacks responded with a try from Sevu Reece, but they trailed 10-5 after a penalty kick from Noah Lolesio.
The All Blacks then took control, scoring consecutive tries, the second by Will Jordan putting them ahead 12-10. Another late first-half try from Caleb Clarke helped the All Blacks lead 19-13 at halftime.
The second half saw the All Blacks begin to dominate, with Tamaiti Williams scoring another try to extend their lead. Clarke added a second try, solidifying their advantage to 33-13.
Although the Wallabies attempted to regain some momentum and earned a penalty in the closing minutes, they were unable to capitalize. The match concluded with the All Blacks enjoying a strong performance to close out their Rugby Championship campaign.