1
Recap: New Zealand v Australia LIVE | Bledisloe Cup II
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action from the Bledisloe Cup match live on RugbyPass as New Zealand host Australia at Eden Park in Auckland.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation anywhere in the world from in our Live Match Centre (click here).
There is plenty on the line for both the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park in the second Bledisloe Cup test. Here are 10 points, written by New Zealand Herald writer Christopher Reive, that could go a long way in determining the winner.
FIVE REASONS THE ALL BLACKS WILL (PROBABLY) WIN
Eden Park
The All Blacks haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994, and Australia hasn't won at the ground in 33 years. If there was ever a team to feed off of a home-field advantage, it's the All Blacks when playing at Eden Park.
History
In 165 matches between the two sides, New Zealand has won 114. You have to go all the way back to the 2001 Tri-Nations to find the last time the Wallabies claimed back-to-back wins over the All Blacks.
Pressure
You know what they say: pressure makes diamonds.
Opportunity is everything
This is the All Blacks' penultimate Test before the World Cup, but it's also the last time they will play before the World Cup squad is announced. The midfield is still a puzzle, and there will be some tough choices to make in the front row and in the backline.
On the wings, Sevu Reece and George Bridge have been handed golden opportunities to make a lasting impression on the selectors, while Sonny Bill Williams will start in the midfield looking to show he is fit and ready to go. They will all be eyeing a big performance.
Pride
If all the records and historic data aren't enough to spur the hosts on, the simple matter of not wanting to see the Australians make off with the Bledisloe Cup surely will. Steve Hansen has said the Bledisloe is second only to the World Cup in their plans this year, so you can bet that they won't want to see it going to Australian shores.
WHAT DO THE WALLABIES HAVE GOING FOR THEM?
Momentum
If you're a believer in momentum, you will know it is firmly on the side of one team. On the back of their biggest ever win over the All Blacks, the Wallabies will come surging into Eden Park with the belief they can take the Bledisloe back home.
Nothing to lose, everything to gain
They will have plenty of people cheering them on and hoping they win, but there will be very few who actually expect them to. The Wallabies have nothing to prove and everything to gain from this fixture.
Pressure (part II)
Pressure is a sword – and sometimes you find yourself on the pointy end. The Wallabies will be hoping that is the case for the All Blacks.
Nic White
The kid is a threat. His selection ahead of Will Genia in the No9 jersey last weekend out was questioned by some but he put any doubts to rest with his performance. You can bet he will get right back to scurrying from the back of the ruck to test the All Blacks defence. If he can cut through them as easily as he did last week it could spell problems for the All Blacks.
Continuity, or lack thereof
Weekly changes to the All Blacks' matchday squad doesn't allow the players out there to form reliable combinations. Using the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe matches alikeWorld Cup trials is something that has to be done but it could be costly for the All Blacks in the short term.
NEW ZEALAND: 1. Joe Moody (39 caps), 2. Dane Coles (63), 3. Nepo Laulala (18), 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (23), 5. Samuel Whitelock (110), 6. Ardie Savea (37), 7. Sam Cane (62), 8. Kieran Read - captain (120), 9. Aaron Smith (85), 10. Richie Mo'unga (11), 11. George Bridge (3), 12. Sonny Bill Williams (52), 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (36), 14. Sevu Reece (1), 15. Beauden Barrett (76). Reps: 16. Codie Taylor (43), 17. Ofa Tuungafasi (28), 18. Angus Ta'avao (6), 19. Jackson Hemopo (4), 20. Matt Todd (19), 21. TJ Perenara (57), 22. Ngani Laumape (12), 23. Jordie Barrett (10).
AUSTRALIA: 1. Scott Sio (57 caps), 2. Tolu Latu (14), 3. Allan Alaalatoa (33), 4. Izack Rodda (20), 5. Adam Coleman (32), 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (14), 7. Michael Hooper - captain (94), 8. Isi Naisarani (3), 9. Nic White (25), 10. Christian Leali'ifano (21), 11. Marika Koroibete (22), 12. Samu Kerevi (28), 13. James O’Connor (46), 14. Reece Hodge (36), 15. Kurtley Beale (86). Reps: 16. Folau Fainga’a (10), 17. James Slipper (89), 18. Taniela Tupou (14), 19. Rob Simmons (96), 20. Liam Wright (uncapped), 21. Will Genia (103), 22. Matt To’omua (45), 23. Adam Ashley-Cooper (117)
WATCH: Australia winning the 1998 Bledisloe Cup
Trending on RugbyPass
2
South Africa vs England player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
3
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
4
Jake White: As England coach, I’d have been livid
5
Latest Comments
Yeah nar I pretty much agree with that sentiment, wasn't just about the lineout though.
Yeah, I think it's the future of SR, even TRC. Graham above just now posting about how good a night it was with a dbl header of ENGvSA and NZvFrance, and now I don't want to kick SA or Argentina out of TRC but it would be great if in this next of the woods 2 more top teams could come in to create more of these sort of nights (for rugby's appeal). Often Arg and SA and both travel here and you get those games but more often doesn't work out right.
Obviously a long way off but USA and Japan are the obvious two. First thing we need to do is get Eddie Jones kicked out of Japan so they can start improving again and then get a couple of US teams in SRP (even if one its just a US based and augmented Jaguares).
It will start off the whole conferences are crap debate again (which I will continue to argue vehemently against), but imagine a 6 team Pacific conference, Tokyo Sunwolves (drafted from Tokyo JRLO teams), Tokyo All Stars (made up of best remaining foreign players and overseas drafts), ALL Nihon (best of local non Tokyo based talent, inc China/Korea etc, with mainland Japan), a could of West Coast american franchises and perhaps a second self PI driven Hawai'i based team, or Jagaures. So I see a short NFL like 3 or 4 month comp as fitting best, maybe not even a full round, NZvAUSvPAC, all games taking place within a 6hr window. Model for NZ will definitely still require a competitive and funded NPC!
On the Crusaders, I liked last years ending with Grace on the bench (ovbiously form dependent but thats how it ended) and Lio-Willie at 8. I could have Blackadder trying to be a 7 but think balance will be used with him at 6 and Kellow as 7. Scott Barrett is an international 6 sized player. It is just NZ style/model that pushes him into the tight, I reckon he'd be a great loose player, and saders have Strange and Cahill as bigger players (plus that change could draw someone like Darry back). Same with Haig now, hes not grown yet but Barrett hight and been playing 6, now that the Highlanders have only chosen two locks he'll be playing lock, and that is going to change his growth trajectory massively, rather than seeing him grow like an International 6.
Go to commentsDan Carter is the leading points scorer and leading points per game person for a player with significant tests. 2s RWC winner and member of the games greatest ever team. It's not even close. The only question of GOAT for rugby is whether McCaw deserves it given Carter's numbers.
Go to comments