AUS
No.Name
15Israel Folau, -
T
14Henry Speight, -
13Samu Kerevi, -
12Kurtley Beale, -
T
11Curtis Rona, -
T
10Bernard Foley, -
4
2
9Will Genia, -
1Scott Sio, -
2Stephen Moore, -
3Allan Alaalatoa, -
4Rory Arnold, -
5Adam Coleman, -
6Ned Hanigan, -
7Michael Hooper, -
8Sean McMahon, -
Replacements
16Tatafu Polota-Nau, -
17Tom Robertson, -
18Sekope Kepu, -
19Rob Simmons, -
20Lopeti Timani, -
21Nick Phipps, -
22Reece Hodge, -
23Tevita Kuridrani, -
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Accor Stadium
6:00 AM, August 19, 2017
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

82'That's all she wrote from Sydney. Thanks for your company.
81'Michael Hooper says: "I'm really proud we displayed that Australian spirit in the second half. Some guys really stood up in that second half."
81'Kieran Read describes the game as "pretty surreal" at times. "Our passes stuck" in the first half, "we carried pretty hard" and "perhaps we took our foot off the throat in the second half". Says NZ "have to be smarter in that final 20 minutes" in Dunedin.
81'34-54 End of second half
80'That's fulltime on one crazy game of rugby: A game of two halves in which the All Blacks led 40-6 at the oranges before the Wallabies won the second-half 28-14, four tries to two, in the second stanza. Amazing stuff, and both sets of coaches likely equally as unhappy as the other given the defensive woes on display.
77'Australia break and Israel Folau threatens a try with a mazy, hip-swerving run in the absence of support and the All Blacks clear their lines.
76'Poor scrummage from the All Blacks, a set piece that almost lacked a little respect for their opponents, and the opportunity is lost with a midfield knock-on.
76'Beauden Barrett close to a try after charging down a clearing kick from Bernard Foley, but the desperate dive from the Wallabies five-eighth -- just -- ensures we have a five-metre scrum not a score. Simultaneous grounding the ruling from the TMO.
75'Lopeti Timani and tevita Kuridrani have been integral to much of the improved Wallabies display in the second half. Michael Cheika will be considering them as starters in Dunedin next week for the urgency and physique they have brought to the team.
73'Lovely attack from the All Blacks comes to nought after the pass from Beauden Barrett floats forwards.
69'34-54 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
69'32-54 Try - Israel Folau , Australia
68'Michael Cheika must be very happy with the comeback from the Wallabies. Not every day you score 34 points against the All Blacks. Steve Hansen and the All Blacks' coaching team likely raging about his team's performance in the past 20 minutes.
68'Player substituted - Curtis Rona , Australia
68'Substitute on - Reece Hodge , Australia
67'It is not clearly offside so it's a try, Wayne Barnes says.
67'The Wallabies are over the NZL line again, after a pass from Bernard Foley drfits a metre forward. Israel Folau collects the loose ball after it had hit Tevita Kuridrani. Likely accidental offside.
67'Substitute on - Nathan Harris , New Zealand
67'Player substituted - Codie Taylor , New Zealand
67'Player substituted - Damian McKenzie , New Zealand
67'Substitute on - Lima Sopoaga , New Zealand
65'Lovely first-phase attack from the Wallabies, but the drift defence of Anton Lienert-Brown to pull down Henry Speight who'd collected an inside ball over the shoulder from Kurtley Beale was highlight reel material.
65'Player substituted - Wyatt Crockett , New Zealand
65'Substitute on - Joe Moody , New Zealand
64'Substitute on - Lopeti Timani , Australia
64'Player substituted - Sean McMahon , Australia
63'Player substituted - Liam Squire , New Zealand
63'Substitute on - Ardie Savea , New Zealand
62'The All Blacks' skills and execution have dropped a level, and all of a sudden -- if we ignore the scoreboard -- we seem to have a contest, at least in part.
62'27-54 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
61'25-54 Try - Kurtley Beale , Australia
61'Player substituted - Scott Sio , Australia
61'Substitute on - Tom Robertson , Australia
61'Player substituted - Sam Whitelock , New Zealand
61'Substitute on - Luke Romano , New Zealand
60'Kurtley Beale capitalises from loose ball inside the Australian half, the All Blacks having dropped an inside ball from Damian McKenzie after he was tackled heavily by Curtis Rona. Picks the ball up on the fly and scores a find breakaway try.
59'Kieran Read spills a ball inside from Beauden Barrett hard on first-phase attack from a scrum: That might have been the first error the ABs have made in Australia's 22. Australia break through Henry Speight but can't capitalise. Plenty spirit still in the Wallabies' set-up but spirit without skills and execution gets you only so far.
56'20-54 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
55'18-54 Try - Tevita Kuridrani , Australia
54'Tevita Kuridrani scores his 15th Test try -- again in a first-phase move from a five-metre scrum. He's looked sharp since going on at halftime, and he linked well there with Israel Folau. Good support line.
54'Australia back on the attack again after poor hands from NZ, but Sekope Kepu bombs the chance when he elects to pop a pass that goes to ground rather than going himself.
53'Player substituted - Aaron Smith , New Zealand
53'Substitute on - TJ Perenara , New Zealand
53'13-54 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
52'11-54 Try - Curtis Rona , Australia
51'Curtis Rona scores off a first-phase set play from the back of a five-metre scrum. Does that make it a debut to remember?
51'Player substituted - Joe Moody , New Zealand
51'Substitute on - Wyatt Crockett , New Zealand
51'Substitute on - Sekope Kepu , Australia
51'Player substituted - Allan Alaalatoa , Australia
50'
50'Substitute on - Anton Lienert-Brown , New Zealand
50'Player substituted - Ryan Crotty , New Zealand
50'Player substituted - Will Genia , Australia
50'Substitute on - Nick Phipps , Australia
50'Player substituted - Rory Arnold , Australia
50'Substitute on - Rob Simmons , Australia
49'Australia over the line but can't get the pill down after a fine break from Kurtley Beale after he's been fed by Israel Folau.
49'6-54 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
48'6-52 Try - Ben Smith , New Zealand
47'Aaron Smith feeds Ben Smith outside his shoulder but that's a try made by Liam Squire, the flanker having broken two or three tackles in a bustling run.
45'6-47 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
44'Michael Cheika says Wallabies are: "Lacking urgency in defence. In attack we've been OK, but the defence ... have to get set earlier, we've got to keep coming at them and see where it get's us".
44'
44'Substitute on - Ofa Tu'ungafasi , New Zealand
44'Player substituted - Owen Franks , New Zealand
43'6-45 Try - Damian McKenzie , New Zealand
42'Beauden Barrett steals the ball from Michael Hooper on attack, feeds the ball to Rieko Ioane and the winger scoots clear.
42'Handling errors from both teams early in the second half. Wallabies still trying to put the pill through hands but they're playing laterally as they can't make ground under immense defensive pressure from the All Blacks' D.
42'
42'We've been waiting a while for this game, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster says.
41'Player substituted - Stephen Moore , Australia
41'Substitute on - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
41'Player substituted - Samu Kerevi , Australia
41'Substitute on - Tevita Kuridrani , Australia
41'6-40 End of first half
41'6-40 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
41'6-38 Try - Ryan Crotty , New Zealand
40'
40'
40'
40'
40'
40'
40'Not sure what kind of message the All Blacks have delivered in the first 40. Much of their moves have been been unopposed training ground plays.
40'First phase try from the scrum, with Aaron Smith passing directly to Ryan Crotty to score untouched under the posts as the siren sounds.
40'6-40 Start of second half
36'Not even the loudest of doomsayers or naysayers likely imagined this scoreline approaching halftime. But the All Blacks look like scoring every time they enter the Wallabies' 22. Whatever confidence the Wallabies had entering this game has long since left the players. To be a fly on the walls in the sheds. Michael Cheika needs to find a way to stem the bleeding while once imagines that Steve Hansen will want his men to inflict another thousand cuts.
35'6-33 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
34'6-31 Try - Sonny Bill Williams , New Zealand
33'Three phases later, with Beauden Barrett just short in the second, and Sonny Bill Williams crashes through the defence of Henry Speight and Curtis Rona to claim his 11th Test try.
32'Wallabies penalised for being offside. Very kickable inside 22. Beauden Barrett kicks for the corner. This is now officially a training run for the All Blacks.
31'Strong words from Wayne Barnes to the packs, threatening cards if the scrums do not improve. Too many resets. "Everything positive about this game apart from these scrums."
28'Sonny Bill Williams the latest All Blacks player to carve a swathe through the Wallabies' defensive line. Wallabies missing too many tackles. Too easy for NZL to make metres.
26'Brutal tackle from Kieran Read on Kurtley Beale illustrates the difference between the two teams to this point. There's a real edge to the All Blacks' play, but that hit was the first sign of anything approaching the physicality of the All Blacks-British & Irish Lions series.
26'6-26 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
25'
25'6-24 Try - Ryan Crotty , New Zealand
23'Three phases later, after coming right, and Ryan Crotty takes a short pass from Beauden Barrett to run inside Henry Speight and cross untouched. GAME OVER.
23'Joe Moody throws one of the best dummies you'll see ever from a prop and the ABs are back deep in Australian territory.
22'6-19 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
21'6-17 Try - Rieko Ioane , New Zealand
20'Poor hands from the Wallabies: loose pass from Michael Hooper goes to ground, missing Will Genia, Bernard Foley tries to pop the pill to Kurtley Beale and, bang, and interception: Rieko Ioane sprints clear to cross unopposed and you might say this game already is over.
18'6-12 Try - Rieko Ioane , New Zealand
17'Wallabies will be worried by the ease with which Damian McKenzie and Ryan Crotty are exposing the perceived defensive frailties of Samu Kerevi.
17'All Blacks straight on the offensive from the kick-off, and Damian McKenzie again creates space for the players outside him. Three phases later and Rieko Ioane is over in the left corner going round Israel Folau and beating the cover tackle of Henry Speight.

16'6-7 Penalty goal - Bernard Foley , Australia
15'Impressive response from the Wallabies after conceding a soft try to Liam Squire. Plenty of resilience and still playing on the front foot.
13'Too much pressure coming through, Wayne Barnes says in explaining his decision to penalise the All Blacks for collapsing the scrummage.
12'
12'Wallabies back on the attack after a strong run from Henry Speight on the right wing. Putting the ball through phases, and they'll be happy with the early involvement of Allan Ala'alatoa and Kurtley Beale in particular.
12'3-7 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
11'Wallabies will consider that was way too easy a way to concede a try. All Blacks didn't do too much except take a quick tackle, break one and put the ball through hands quickly.
10'3-5 Try - Liam Squire , New Zealand
8'Damian McKenzie makes an impact with all but his first touch from a quick throw. Breaks a tackle. One phase later, quick hands in the backline, and Liam Squire crosses unopposed on the opposite (left) touchline.
8'Referee Wayne Barnes giving plenty of guidance and direction to both teams. No excuses here from either team that they don't know what he wants.
6'Allan Ala'alatoa coughs up the ball on attack gifting the All Blacks to loose ball with which they counter so effectively. Nothing comes of it so we go back to an All Blacks penalty.
6'Beauden Barrett's re-start fails to go 10 metres so we'll have a Wallabies scrum on halfway. Australia awarded a free-kick.
5'3-0 Penalty goal - Bernard Foley , Australia
3'Breathless opening couple of minutes before Wallabies awarded a penalty after 12 phases, for All Blacks not rolling away. Right in front for Bernard 'The Iceman' Foley.
2'Liam Squire, Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty each make good ground as the All Blacks make Wallabies territory from the opening kick off, before Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Curtis Rona reply in kind for Australia. Lively opening.
1'We're under way, with Bernard Foley kicking off for the Wallabies.
1'Preamble over. Let's have some rugby.

1'
1'Teams have entered the arena. The Welcome to Country, Anthems and the Haka to come before kick-off.
1'
1'Wallabies are "committed, pumped and ready to go", Michael Hooper says. All Blacks, Kieran Read says, "know how big this game is going to be". Bledisloe Cup is "incredibly important" for All Blacks, Read says.
1'
1'All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the "big focus for [New Zealand since the Lions series} has been getting ourselves mentally and physically as well as getting our skill level to the point where we can handle a bit of extra pressure that may come".
1'Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says he's "really pleased" with the preparation and he "couldn't have asked for any more effort from the lads the past four weeks we've been together".
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'The All Blacks' record against Australia (including the Rugby World Cup final in 2015) since the Wallabies last lifted the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.

WWWLWWWWWLWLWWWWWWWWWWLWLWWDWWWDWWLWWWWW

That's some kind of trans-Tasman dominance.

Will the Wallabies inflict another L?

1'New Zealand will surely be looking for a comprehensive performance akin to that with which they humiliated the Wallabies in the corresponding fixture last season, especially after they failed to defeat the British & Irish Lions.

The Wallabies, meanwhile, will be looking to put the All Blacks on the back foot after picking a team to attack.

While you have time before kick-off, take some time to read our assessment of the Wallabies' high-performance programs.

1'Damian McKenzie has been rewarded for a stellar Super Rugby season with a second start at fullback for the All Blacks. His inclusion pushes Ben Smith, who returns from a concussion lay-off, to the wing while Rieko Ioane, Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty also return after missing the final Test against the Lions. There is just one change to the pack with Liam Squire coming in at No.6 in place of Jerome Kaino.

New Zealand's team: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Replacements: Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Luke Romano, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown.

1'On the field, Curtis Rona follows in the footsteps of fellow NRL converts such as Israel Folau, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor after he was included in the Wallabies backline for his Test debut. Rona will start on the left wing with Cheika opting for a new-look midfield partnership of Kurtley Beale and Samu Kerevi. Up front, Stephen Moore starts at hooker ahead of Tatafu Polota-Nau while Sean McMahon makes his first Test start of 2017 at No.8.

Australia's team: Israel Folau, Henry Speight, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Curtis Rona, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper (c), Ned Hanigan, Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge Tevita Kuridrani.

1'Hello and welcome to our Live Coverage of the Rugby Championship-opening Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia's Wallabies and New Zealand's All Blacks at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. We've had quite the lead-up with fallout from the Australian Rugby Union decision to axe Western Force from Super Rugby dominating the agenda one side of the Tasman, and off-field stories about headline All Blacks players Aaron Smith and Jerome Kaino doing the same in New Zealand.

Read Sam Bruce's match preview here.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2017 News