All Blacks hold off spirited Wallabies fightback to retain Bledisloe Cup in Sydney thriller
The coveted Bledisloe Cup will remain in the hands of the All Blacks after holding off a late Wallabies come back in a thriller in Sydney.
Having trailed 31-14 mid way through the second half, Hunter Paisami's try cut the deficit to 10 points, before a Tom Wright try in the 77th minute brought the Wallabies to within three points of their rivals.
But despite their best efforts, a 45th minute All Blacks penalty goal proved the difference, holding on 31-28.
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The All Blacks had earlier found themselves well ahead of the clock when they raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first half.
"In the first 20 minutes, the All Blacks blew the Wallabies off the Park," Wallabies great Tim Horan said in commentary for Nine at full time.
The All Blacks held off a trilling Wallabies fightback to retain the Bledisloe Cup. Getty
"But the Wallabies managed to stay in touch before half-time and in the second half, the message from Joe Schmidt was to hold the ball, not throw it away.
"They started to play and it was a great comeback," he said.
If Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was hoping for a fast start in his first match against his old side, he got the polar opposite when will Jordan carved through the line to score for the All Blacks barely 90 seconds into the contest.
James Slipper after the full-time hooter. Getty
Cortez Ratima put Rieko Ioane away down the left flank for the second try minutes later, and then Caleb Clarke scored a third in the 15th minute.
Three perfect conversions from Damian McKenzie ensured the All Blacks were well in front of the clock.
Fraser McReight got the Wallabies on the board in the 18th minute against the run of play off the back of a rare lineout win.
The All Blacks hit back again through Ardie Savea, and McKenzie's kick once again kept his side in front of the clock. They were gifted the field position after the Wallabies made a meal of an attacking lineout following an unlikely Fraser McReight 50/22.
Matt Faessler scored in the 36th minute, before the TMO disallowed a All Black Jordie Barrett as the half-time hooter echoed around Accor Stadium.
Resuming 28-14, the All Blacks were first to score in the second half courtesy a penalty goal in the 45th minute.
Rieko Ioane celebrates his try. Getty
James Slipper surpassed George Gregan to became the most-capped Wallaby when he was introduced into his 140th Test match in the 50th minute.
The Wallabies again got lucky when the TMO disallowed a Cortez Ratima stunner just before the hour mark after a McKenzie offload to Will Jordan before he was tackled into touch was judged forward.
Six tries were scored in the first half, but it took more than 25 minutes for the first of the second to be scored when Hunter Paisami finally got the better of the All Blacks defence.
Matt Faessler Getty
The try and conversion cut the lead back to 10, and in a double whammy for the All Blacks, Anton Lienert-Brown was given a yellow card.
The All Blacks were down to 13 men when Caleb Clarke was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down in the 72nd minute.
And the Wallabies looked to have made the most of the two-man advantage when Len Ikitau crossed under the posts, before the try was dismissed by the referee for an Andrew Kellaway knock-on back on half way.
