The Bledisloe Cup used to be a great rivalry. This year proved it no longer is
After a period of promise under new coach Les Kiss, whose first five matches in charge of the Wallabies produced an unbeaten run, the bubble has well and truly burst.
The casual Australian fan will always judge the Wallabies by how they fare against the All Blacks, and this latest abject showing – a 43-21 defeat in Sydney – not only confirms that the Wallabies are struggling, but suggests the once-great rivalry between the two rugby nations is in peril, too.
Afternoon sunshine is the perfect backdrop for running rugby – the stuff the Wallabies were renowned for in their golden years – and there was plenty of it early as Australia burst through holes down the right edge to signal their intent.
But when Rob Valetini slipped off a tackle on Josh Moorby in the 12th minute, and wily All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett crossed five minutes later, it was abundantly clear there would be no let-up from the Kiwis with the Bledisloe Cup already secured for another year.
Wallabies fullback Tom Wright said his side had “faced the music” after last week’s horror 50-19 loss in Auckland. You shudder to think what is in store for them after one of the most shambolic first halves of rugby in Australia’s history.
There was once a time when 13 consecutive defeats to the All Blacks would have been considered unacceptable. Spread over six years, the underwhelming run of results has passed with barely a raised eyebrow. Perhaps Wallabies fans have simply become immune to more pain.
The aggregate margin of defeat, 53 points across Auckland and Sydney, was the highest in a two-match Bledisloe Cup series.
The previous highest was a combined 44 points in 1996, when the Wallabies lost 43-6 in Wellington and 32-25 in Brisbane.
For Australia to make any impression at next year’s World Cup on home soil, they must quickly learn the lessons from this match, in which they were comprehensively outclassed and out-enthused.
Perhaps the only consolation is that a loss to the All Blacks in the pool stages would likely see Australia avoid South Africa – who, on the evidence of this year, are more ruthless than ever.
Some Wallabies supporters walked out at the 20-minute mark. Not out of the stadium itself, but presumably to the bar for an alcoholic beverage to make the next 60 minutes somewhat more palatable.
As Nine and Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney aptly put it: “New Zealand are in a mood.”
That was an understatement. But certainly not the biggest of the day.
That honour belonged to the Wallabies’ social media accounts, which declared at half-time, with Australia trailing 36-7 and having already conceded six tries, that there was “work to do after the break”.
When all the cogs in the All Blacks machine are working in harmony, it is beautiful to watch. Even with their goal-kicking slightly off – Damian McKenzie missed three of his first four attempts – they bulldozed their way through gaping holes in Australia’s defence.
And when they couldn’t go around the Wallabies, they simply went straight over the top.
All Blacks No.8 Wallace Sititi’s decision to peel off the back of a scrum down the blindside and run straight over Ryan Lonergan for his side’s fifth try deserves consideration as one of the softest tries Australia have ever conceded.
Put Moorby’s untouched effort in the 43rd minute in that same category as Lonergan and Max Jorgensen appeared to look at each other, wondering why the other hadn’t bothered to make a tackle. That comically bad effort drew a filthy look from Kiss, who threw his hands down in disgust.
Wallabies No.10 Declan Meredith delivered the final pass for Jeremy Williams’ try but otherwise produced a mixed performance.
With playmakers Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson injured, Kiss’ decision not to throw experienced campaigners Bernard Foley or James O’Connor a lifeline will be debated in the days to come.
Tom Wright is the epitome of a rocks-or-diamonds player, Jorgensen has flashes of brilliance but needs more support, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had nine runs for just 10 metres gained.
None of that should detract from the brilliance of an All Blacks side battle-hardened by their tour of South Africa and boasting an impressive tackle completion rate of 91 per cent.
The margin flattered Australia, given the result was a fait accompli by half-time. Not conceding a try in the final 37 minutes was a small consolation the Wallabies can take into their upcoming spring tour of Europe.
The men in gold have won their fair share of Bledisloe Cup dead rubbers over the years, but this was not one of those days. It was as sombre as a rugby Test can be on home soil.
Last week’s defeat confirmed a 24th year of Bledisloe Cup misery, while Saturday’s capitulation gave further credence to the argument that Australia might have to wait another 24 years to win it again.
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