In the 2018 Rugby Championship opener, New Zealand scored 33 second-half points as they beat Australia 38-13. The Wallabies edged a tight first half, but the All Blacks scored before the break through Aaron Smith in Sydney.
Jack Goodhue crossed for their second and Beauden Barrett the third as the Wallabies’ set-piece buckled and Brodie Retallick secured a try-bonus point.
On Saturday, 25th August, the two sides meet at Eden Park, Auckland in round two of the Rugby Championship before the final Bledisloe Cup Test on 27 October in Japan.
All Blacks captain Kieran Reid said: “Credit to the Wallabies, we had to fight really hard and it was a full 80-minute game. They had probably dominated the first half so to get that score [just before half-time] was crucial. The resilience of the boys was awesome.”
Australia: Folau; Haylett-Petty, Hodge, Beale, Koroibete; Foley, Genia; Robertson, Polota-Nau, Kepy, Rodda, Coleman, Tui, Hooper (capt), Pocock.
Bench: Latu, Alaalatoa, Ainsley, Simmons, Samu, Phipps, Toomua, Maddocks.
New Zealand: Smith; Naholo, Goodhue, Crotty, Ioane; B Barrett, Smith; Moody, Taylor, Franks, Retallick, Whitelock, Squire, Cane, Read (capt).
Replacements: Harris, Perry, Tuinukuake, S Barrett, Savea, Perenara, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.
