The All Blacks secured a commanding 33-13 victory over the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup test held in Wellington, marking their last home game of the year. This win ended a six-year winless streak in Wellington for the All Blacks and allowed them to conclude the Rugby Championship with three wins and three losses.
Captain Scott Barrett expressed his relief at finally clinching a win in Wellington, stating, “Really pleased to reverse the curse. We didn’t start too well but I am really pleased with how we finished, some grit on defense and we held out the Aussies.” The All Blacks managed to score second-half tries through Tamaiti Williams and Caleb Clarke, breaking their previous trend of being scoreless in the final quarter of games during the Rugby Championship.
Former captain Sam Cane played his 100th test and reflected on the moment, saying, “Just feel really lucky to be able to have this moment at home in New Zealand.” He praised the younger players on the team, emphasizing their exceptional skills.
This match marked the final appearance in black for both Cane and TJ Perenara, with Barrett acknowledging their significant contributions to the team.
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson acknowledged moments of promise during the campaign but ultimately found it disappointing, saying, “It’s not the result we wanted.”
The match opened with the Wallabies quickly applying pressure, leading to an early try by flanker Fraser McReight. The All Blacks responded, with Sevu Reece scoring shortly after. Despite the Wallabies briefly extending their lead with a penalty, the All Blacks regained control and finished the first half in front, 19-13, following a try from Caleb Clarke.
In the second half, the All Blacks increased their lead with a try from Tamaiti Williams and another from Clarke, solidifying their dominance in the game. The Wallabies attempted to make a comeback but were ultimately thwarted by New Zealand’s steadfast defense.
Despite a yellow card for Clarke late in the game, the All Blacks maintained their lead, concluding the match at 33-13 and delivering one of their strongest performances in the Rugby Championship this year.