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Auckland – The All Blacks An emphatic message sent out is not to be underestimated at the Rugby World Cup as they bounced back from a hiding last week. Wallabies 36-0 at Eden Park on Saturday.
As it happened: New Zealand v Australia
Having been mocked in the media before sparring the test as the "Old Blacks" and "over the hill", the All Blacks dug deep into their wealth of experience to outscore the Wallabies' five tries.
It is the first time since 2012 and the eighth time overall that Australia has failed to score a Test against New Zealand.
Coach Steve Hansen's bold move to drop the experienced Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane was rewarded with two fledgling replacements, George Bridge and Sevu Reece, both scoring tries.
The overwhelming victory, just seven days after suffering a record loss to the Australians, saw the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th straight year.
It also meant the Wallabies, who arrived confident they could end the misery of years at the All Blacks' Eden Park fortress, go home still winless in Auckland in 19 Tests stretching back to 1986.
A week after the Wallabies bullied the Blacks up front and around the fringes, this time it was the New Zealand tight five who had control and a loose trio of Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane on the breakdown.
The All Blacks may have been notoriously slow starters but they opened up this time with bristling determination and had an immediate injection of confidence when Christian Lealiifano's kick-off went out on the full.
Within minutes they had pushed the Wallabies deep into their own territory where Richie Mo'unga opened the scoring with a penalty.
The Wallabies had their moments midway through the half with Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete finding space that had the All Blacks scrambling.
But a sustained period of drive at the line was repulsed by a watertight All Blacks defense, while penalty attempts by Reece Hodge and Lealiifano went wide.
The All Blacks took control with a 60-meter try to pass an intercept from Mo'unga, and then Bridge, making the most of his first Test start with a series of raids down the left wing, put Aaron Smith in for a try.
All Blacks skipper Kieran Read's plea for better discipline from his troops was largely successful, though there would be concerns over Dane Coles' sinbinning just before half-time for a dangerous clear-out.
But despite his absence, a seven-man All Blacks pack marched the Wallabies eight backwards in two scrums.
As soon as Coles returned to the fray, five minutes into the second half, Sonny Bill Williams crashed through two tackles to score the posts and extend the lead to 24-0.
Reece, who had a quiet first half, fired up in the second when he swung his way and was rewarded with a try when he passed the ball to Hodge and then out-sprinted Kurtley Beale to score.
Bridge slid in for a try in the corner just before full-time to round off a one-sided victory.
Scorers:
New Zealand
Tries: Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Sevu Reece, George Bridge
Conversions: Mo'unga (3), Beauden Barrett
Penalty: Mo'unga
Teams:
New Zealand
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ardie Savea, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Jordie Barrett
Australia
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 James O'Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Adam Coleman , 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio
Substitutes: 16 Folau Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Liam Wright, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Adam Ashley-Cooper
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