Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan scores tries as All Blacks rip Australia apart in second half at Eden Park; Watch the All Blacks travel to face Australia in Sydney next Saturday October 17 (6am kick-off BST)
Last Updated: 10/10/26 9:34am
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Highlights of New Zealand vs Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park
Highlights of New Zealand vs Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park
New Zealand will retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th year after powering to a 50-19 victory over Australia at Eden Park on Saturday.
A competitive first half, perhaps even edged by Australia, saw the All Blacks three points ahead at the break as the sides traded two tries each. Back-rows Peter Lakai and Tupou Vaa’i scoring for the hosts, full-back Tom Wright and No 8 Harry Wilson scoring for the Wallabies.
But the second half proved altogether different, as the All Blacks added five further tries through scrum-half Cam Roigard, hooker Codie Taylor and wings Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan.
Electric fly-half Damian McKenzie also added six conversions and a penalty in victory.
The success sees New Zealand remain unbeaten at Eden Park since 1994, and 2002 as the year Australia last held the Bledisloe Cup.
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New Zealand performed their famous haka before facing Australia at Eden Park
Australia, buoyed by a win over world champions South Africa last month, dominated the opening exchanges and got their reward in the eighth minute when full-back Wright cleverly straightened up an attacking move to score the opening try.
Australia’s Tom Wright sped over for the opening try of the Test as the visitors started strong
The aerial battle was always going to be a key factor and New Zealand were enjoying the better of it with Jordie Barrett winning one duel and feeding McKenzie, who scythed through the defence before feeding flanker Lakai to level up the scores.
The All Blacks were also getting a width in the attack that was causing Australia problems and the home side cashed in to take a 14-7 lead in the 16th minute, when Vaa’i barrelled low and hard through the defence at the end of a multi-phase attack.
New Zealand’s Tupou Vaa’i forced his way for their second try and the lead
Ryan Lonergan missed a penalty for Australia directly in front of the posts in the 24th minute, but McKenzie made no mistake nine minutes later to extend the lead to 10 points.
The five minutes before half-time is traditionally a fruitful stage of the game for New Zealand, but it was Australia who scored three minutes before the break, with Ben Donaldson scooting through a gap in the defence and finding Wilson in support.
Harry Wilson got over to get Australia right into the contest before half-time, but their second half proved disastrous
Australia again came firing out of the blocks in the second half but New Zealand earned the first points after 50 minutes when scrum-half Roigard darted over the line off the back of a rolling maul to extend their lead to 24-14.
New Zealand scrum-half Cam Roigard scored one of five second-half tries for the hosts
The All Blacks were now relentless in attack and hooker Taylor, captaining the side for the second time, stepped to score their fourth try five minutes later.
The Wallabies were now struggling to hold onto the ball and wingers Carter, Moorby and Jordan capitalised on the remorseless pressure from the All Blacks in the last quarter to put the game well beyond the visitors.
Leroy Carter scored one of seven All Blacks tries as they powered to a dominant win over Australia at Eden Park
Barrett: It’s special – the Bledisloe Cup means a lot to this country
All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett to Sky Sports:
“It’s pretty special, the Bledisloe Cup means a lot to this country.
“We spent a lot of time on the road this year, and we spoke about it this week. We wanted to show what it was like to be an All Black and play in front of our fans.
“We’re bloody proud of the performance tonight.
“We wanted to keep maxing out with our energy, and we got a lot of physical dominance up front tonight.”
Centre Jordie Barrett proved a standout performer for the All Blacks on the day
Wilson: We could tell New Zealand were hurting out there
Australia captain Harry Wilson to Sky Sports:
“Credit to New Zealand, they are a quality side, and playing them here [Eden Park] is always tough.
“We did a really good job to be in the fight after that first half, and then we had an opportunity at the start of the second half and blew it.
“It was then tough to get the ball back for the next 30 minutes.
“It was hard to hold your breath. They put us under a lot of pressure and you could tell they were hurting from the result of the South Africa series.
“They bounced back tonight.”
What’s next?
Next week sees the return clash between these two, as the All Blacks travel to face Australia in Sydney on Saturday October 17 (6am kick-off BST).
That match is also live on Sky Sports Main Event from 6am.
The Bledisloe Cup can now not be won by Australia, however, as even victory will see New Zealand retain it owing to Saturday’s result.
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