New Zealand host Australia in the Rugby Championship with everything still to play for in the title race.
Both teams can lift the trophy heading into the final round of matches but the All Blacks have been given a boost with No 8 Ardie Savea set to return. He missed the match against the Wallabies last Thursday due to the birth of his child but is in the starting line-up at Eden Park in Auckland
New Zealand look far more likely to retain their Rugby Championship title as they currently top the table on 14 points, level with South Africa, and four clear of the Wallabies. But if Australia can spring the upset, they will give themselves a shot of winning the tournament ahead of the Springboks taking on Argentina later today.
History is against the Wallabies however, as not since 1986 have they downed the All Blacks at fortress Eden Park. They may have extra motivation given last week’s controversial defeat when referee Mathieu Raynal gave New Zealand a penalty in the dying moments against Bernard Foley, after he ignored the referee’s warning to hurry up and take a clearance kick.
Follow all the action from the crunch Rugby Championship clash in Auckland below:
TRY! New Zealand 32-0 Australia
53 mins – Lineout good this time. Inexorable driving maul towards the line and they’re over! Codie Taylor, who has had a great game, directing traffic from the back and he dots down. Simple stuff.
Mo’unga’s conversion from relatively wide is no good but this is still in danger of turning into a rout.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:33
New Zealand 27-0 Australia
52 mins – Or not… Not straight at the lineout and it’s a Wallabies free-kick in their own 22. They opt for the scrum. Ah, but they’re outscrummaged again and get pinged.
Another NZ penalty, another kick to the corner
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:30
New Zealand 27-0 Australia
50 mins – The game has got a bit scrappy with the ball bouncing around in the loose. Eventually the All Blacks get over the ball at a breakdown to win the penalty and kick to the corner. Lineout drive incoming you’d think…
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:29
PENALTY! New Zealand 27-0 Australia
46 mins – New Zealand go for the posts and Richie Mo’unga makes no mistake from the tee. The All Black focus now will be ensuring they seal the bonus point (for scoring three more tries than Australia) and racking up the points difference to make South Africa’s job against Argentina later all the tougher.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:26
New Zealand 24-0 Australia
45 mins – That might just break the back of the Australia resistance. All Blacks eating up ground now, Caleb Clarke with a powerful run, taking defenders with him, before a neat Smith offload frees Ioane.
Into the 22 – Lomax crashes up into a defender and then we come back for an All Blacks penalty.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:24
TRY! New Zealand 24-0 Australia
43 mins – This is a bizarre one. Sam Whitelock burrows over the line from close range. There’s a defender underneath him holding him up but it looks like he’s managed to reach back with the ball in one of his big hands and dot down behind him for a remarkable try. It appears that the ball is lost but on closer look, he seems to always have control of it in one hand.
Long TMO review and, importantly, the on-field decision was try. It does indeed stay a try. Remarkable! Brilliant by Whitelock to keep control of that! Mo’unga’s conversion and this has got away from the Wallabies.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:21
New Zealand 17-0 Australia
42 mins – Early pressure is all New Zealand as they win a scrum and set a platform in the Australia 22. Through the phases and they’re only a few metres away now
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:18
KICK-OFF! New Zealand 17-0 Australia
41 mins – Back underway in the second half
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:17
HALF-TIME! New Zealand 17-0 Australia
40 mins – All Blacks try a kick over the top but collected by the Wallabies and that’s half-time.
A good half for New Zealand who are in control here thanks to a Will Jordan score and a penalty try.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 09:00
New Zealand 17-0 Australia
39 mins – Good hands by Caleb Clarke to collect the ball as the All Blacks press. Great interception by Foley on the right flank though and he makes some ground before trying to kick ahead.
All Blacks scramble back, and find turf with the return kick. Kellaway then kicks to touch to end the mania. One more chance for the All Blacks before HT.
Luke Baker24 September 2022 08:58
Kaynak: briturkish.com