Saturday provided Australia with an invaluable chance to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup, a golden opportunity that, unfortunately, slipped through their fingers. On home turf, under bright and inviting skies, the Wallabies were up against an under-resourced All Blacks team that seemed almost as eager to sabotage their own game. The Wallabies, however, failed to gain the desired outcome.
Despite being aware of the windfall they had narrowly missed, their score of 31-28 didn’t bring them the satisfaction they yearned for. “Tonight we were close, but not nearly enough,” commented team captain Harry Wilson in disappointed reflection on 22 consecutive years of failing to secure the Bledisloe Cup. The actual result did not warrant an optimistic perspective, Coach Joe Schmidt feistily opined, “When you lose a Test match, the glass isn’t exactly brimming over.”
New Zealand flubbed seven tries within the first hour, four due to overconfidence or incompetence, and three following minuscule errors spotted by the Television Match Official (TMO) in the build-up. It was the Wallabies’ inability to recover from New Zealand’s three tries and the 21-0 lead they established within the first 15 minutes that effectively extinguished Australia’s spark before they could gain any momentum, setting the stage for a decidedly inelegant triumph for the Kiwis.
“Despite everything, we managed to pull through,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson confessed after his team managed to halt their losing streak with twin losses to South Africa. “The last three Test matches hinged on a single pass, or a call from the referee, or a decision taken. That’s the nature of Test rugby.” On a grim note, the boundary between reality and aspiration is marked by Australia’s unbroken string of eight Test defeats to New Zealand since 2020.
Schmidt’s commendation of the Wallabies’ efforts in fighting back from a substantial 28-7 deficit rivaled Robertson’s relief, as his team tenaciously held their ground in the game’s final stages, where they had been reduced to 13 players. The Wallabies demonstrated resilience and good rugby strategy, according to Schmidt. The points tallied in the first half were the results of their hard work, before they buckled down and gave their all in the next half.
Schmidt’s main surprise, however, was how rapidly Australia managed to penetrate their line early in the game. Fortunately, heeding their coach’s advice to maintain their unity during the latter stages, the Wallabies pressed relentlessly and managed to keep New Zealand without a single point in the concluding 33 minutes. This gave them a slim chance at a comeback victory.
Schmidt acknowledged the efforts made in regaining momentum in the game, but expressed the challenge of overcoming a strong start by the All Blacks. Ownership of the ball in the second half swung to the Australians, while the All Blacks missed numerous tackles, conceded turnovers and received two yellow cards.
The match varied notably from the narrative set during the concluding half in Santa Fe the previous week. Australia started off dominating most aspects of the game against Argentina, building an impressive 20-3 lead in the first half. The tables turned drastically however, in the final 30 minutes they were overrun as the Pumas ran off nine triumphant tries and an astonishing 67-27 score.
Still, after stunning the All Blacks in the beginning round of the Rugby Championship, Argentina continued to prove their worth by defeating the reigning world champions, South Africa. The Wallabies, on the other hand, took solace from their own victory over Argentina 20-19 last month and their spirited comeback in Sydney, believing these feats bode well for the coming matches.
The next game places the New Zealand team on home ground in Wellington, where they are determined to improve on their performance in the first match. However, Robertson has observed a drop in form and Schmidt’s coaching has improved the Australian side. If the Wallabies can merge their initial dominance in Santa Fe with the resilient comeback in Sydney, they can hope to repeat Argentina’s 38-30 victory over the All Blacks last August at the same venue.
Schmidt has expressed his dissatisfaction that the Bledisloe is not a three-match series. “The game is completely sold out in Wellington and it promises a splendid atmosphere,” he remarked, indicating his wish that the series was still ongoing. There were whispers of a third Anzac test which both unions consider necessary to battle the threat from the NRL, and it’s being used by Rugby Australia to increase their 2025 broadcasting agreement.
However, Schmidt notes, there’s no point yearning for a final challenge if the series isn’t level. He made a number of successful moves over the weekend, notably using Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Brandon Paenga-Amosa to fuel a comeback. Returning players Fraser McReight and Hunter Paisami showcased excellent game play and a strategic shift in attacking the sidelines rather than the middle scored a number of points.
Yet, the Australian team’s performance had its flaws; they didn’t land 35 tackles and their lineout wasn’t up to par. Carlo Tizzano’s impeccable performance in the previous two Tests was missed, as was Max Jorgensen’s swiftness, which could have potentially capitalised on Tom Wright’s openings. Moreover, senior props James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa contributed little off the bench, while Taniela Tupou was underutilised.
As he prepares for the European Tour and an important match against England on November 10th, Schmidt starts the next crucial phase of his role as the saviour of Australian rugby. He’s gearing up to introduce NRL star Joseph Sua’ali’i to breath new life into the game for disappointed fans. It might also be the time to bid farewell to some older players and give opportunities to a new breed. This information comes from the Guardian newspaper.