Wallabies fight but same old Bledisloe Cup story as New Zealand continues with hoodoo in heartbreaking loss to Aussies ahead of World Cup
- Fierce start led to heartbreaking finish
- New Zealand made 12 changes for clash
- Young wallabies showed encouraging signs
The Wallabies have added another Bledisloe Cup heartbreak to their long list, throwing away a 14-point lead at half-time to lose 23-20 in Dunedin.
Marika Koroibete and Tom Hooper scored tries in the first six minutes as Australia dared to dream of an overwhelming result.
Instead, the same old story – now told over 29 games and 22 years of Wallabies injured in New Zealand against the All Blacks – prevailed.
Debutants Shaun Stevenson and Samipeni Finau scored tries in the second half, and with just 60 seconds left Richie Mo’unga kicked a penalty to settle the match.
What must it burn Eddie Jones and his young team, the sixth least experienced Wallabies squad of the past three decades.
While the result is the same as their 38-7 loss at the MCG, there were at least signs of life from the Wallabies five weeks into the World Cup opener.
Australia’s Tate McDermott pressures New Zealand’s Aaron Smith in second Bledisloe Cup Test match in Dunedin
Australia’s Will Skelton storms forward against the second set of New Zealand forwards with a number of Kiwis hoping to book a place in the World Cup squad for Paris
Tate McDermott, on his first run as Wallabies captain, was lively and Carter Gordon, who was heavily criticized in the Bledisloe Cup opener, was much improved.
However, the reality is that Australia will go to France after a winless season in the southern hemisphere and a 0-4 record.
Koroibete scored a third-minute try to set the tone and Hooper joined him on the scoreboard after a further three minutes, bulldozing Damian McKenzie for a two-try lead.
Gordon really kicked with two conversions from the touchline to have the score at 14-0.
The Wallabies were in dreamland, holding out the All Blacks for a 17–3 half-time lead, their first half-time advantage against New Zealand in four years.
Things might have been even bleaker for the All Blacks if not for Ardie Savea, who held up McDermott after the flyhalf shot over the line.
With 12 changes from the Bledisloe Cup opener, New Zealand were incredibly sloppy, giving the ball away at the scrum and line-outs, while missing tackles and dropping catches.
New Zealand’s Shaun Stevenson scores a try after the Wallabies previously led 17-3 in a shock start to the Bledisloe decider
Australia’s Carter Gordon makes a break as the Aussie showed plenty of struggle but couldn’t find an elusive win in New Zealand
A team matching the famous black shirt appeared for the second half and Stevenson scored their first try in the 43rd minute, racing off McKenzie’s long pass.
With half an hour to go, Mo’unga, Aaron Smith and Dane Coles – a combined 252 caps between them – came on and the game was reset as a game.
Leicester Fainga’anuku believed he had scored in the 55th minute, only for a TMO review to show he had dropped the ball.
The Wallabies had their turn with easy runs soon after when Gordon missed a simple penalty, and the All Blacks made him pay.
Finau stormed under the posts and the Wallabies lost their lead after an hour’s lead.
Still, there was life in the game.
The loudest noise of the afternoon came from Quade Cooper’s introduction, and they booed even louder when his penalty kick tied the game with seven minutes left.
The 28,265 strong crowd cheered even more when Cooper knocked on the door in the 77th minute for the defining game of the afternoon.