The All black people have locked up the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th successive season, overcoming Les Kiss’ Wallabies at Eden Park to claim a 50-19 victory.
The Wallabies traveled across the ditch to Auckland with hope and form to back it up, but Dave Rennie and the All Blacks stormed home to their fortress.
In the second third, it was clinical from the home team, which was a big contrast to the first, where the home team could not take advantage of the opportunities provided.
The Wallabies struggled to impose themselves at Eden Park. Kiss’s side had moments of intense pressure on the All Blacks, but too often lacked the finishing touch.
The first forty minutes were back and forth, with the Kiss’ Wallabies holding on to stay within touching distance of the home side on the break. Ben Donaldson looked menacing with ball in hand, while Fraser McReight kept the All Blacks honest. For the hosts, Damian McKenzie, in his first start at No.10 in 2026 for the All Blacks, was electric.
The Bosses the playmaker put his ball carriers through gaps with incisive passes which led to their two tries in the first half. Peter Lakai and Tupou Vaa’i had strong moments, but a lineout error that showed was a concern before the break.
The Kiss’ Wallabies had their chances in the second, and almost scored just after the break, but it was a poor score after 45 minutes, apart from a late consolation try. After missing two scoring chances in defence, the All Blacks found their groove in attack, including powerful pick-and-gos, to overcome the visitors.
Ben Donaldson’s opener sailed high into the Auckland sky before the Wallabies regained possession after Scott Barrett hit the bench. Back-to-back offside penalties from the All Blacks gave the Wallabies a chance to take the line, but Len Ikitau couldn’t keep close to the line.
The Wallabies quickly got on the front foot and had a penalty advantage, so the Keys’ team took a chance with the ball in hand. Donaldson’s superbly quick hands put Max Jorgensen through the gap, before Tom Wright stuck his ears to the line, bursting through the All Blacks defense to open the scoring at Eden Park.
Jordie Barrett headed home Cameron Roigard’s box kick in midfield to head the All Blacks’ first try of the evening. They recycled through Damian McKenzie, who cut through the Wallabies defense and found Peter Lackey near the line, who crossed the white chalk.
Rennie’s side got going and McKenzie’s line break led to the second try of the night. The No.10 broke the line again, before the All Blacks forwards closed in on the line, resulting in Tupou Vaa’i going down. McKenzie added the extras for a 14-7 lead after 17 minutes.
Ryan Lonergan failed to reduce the deficit to four on 25 minutes, but the All Blacks did not make the same mistake. McKenzie’s penalty from the front extended the lead to ten with seven minutes to play in the first half.
And just as half time approached, the Wallabies hit back, brilliantly. Donaldson shrugged past two All Blacks defenders to put his captain, Harry Wilson, under the posts in the 38th minute to close out the half.
HT: 17-14 to the All Blacks
The visitors started the second half with a dangerous move down the right touchline, but Beauden Barrett comfortably cleared the danger. Barrett had to do the same a few minutes later after Rob Valletini broke through a fragile All Blacks defence.
The Kiwis pushed through the first five minutes of the half, just allowing the All Blacks to make their way through the field. Will Jordan went close but couldn’t connect with Wallace City in support, before Roigard slotted low near the line to extend the All Blacks’ lead to ten.
Rennie’s men built continuity with ball in hand over the next ten minutes, camping in the Wallabies’ half. The one-time ball carriers kept the momentum going, which opened up a gap for captain Codie Taylor to put a point wide of the post. McKenzie continued his strong night out of the game, knocking down the conversion.
A huge shift to the short side saw the All Blacks threaten again and this time Rennie’s men took their chance, through Leroy Carter. Tupaea flicked the ball to Lakai, who did the same to Carter, who burst through the Wallabies forwards to score the All Blacks’ fifth try of the night.
Both teams traded late tries through Josh Nasser and Josh Moorby, before Jordan put the icing on the cake with the contest all but over as the All Blacks secured the Bledisloe Cup for another season.
FT: 50-19 to the All Blacks over the Wallabies
