**Key Events**
The Wallabies remain impossible to appraise. Do you give more credence to a 12th defeat in 19 matches, or to how they almost backed up their victory in Johannesburg with a near upset in Auckland? Do you marvel at their second-half resilience or lose patience over their awful starts? Do you credit the growing number of credible squad members, or shake your head at the inability to establish combinations, especially in the halves?
That was an even contest decided more by moments than any great gulf in class. Yet again, Australia conceded a heavy early deficit, and yet again they staged a rousing comeback, but for the second match in a row, they left themselves too much to do.
At their best, which was for a 15-minute spell in the first half, the All Blacks looked awesome. Outside of that, they appeared vulnerable—attacking with isolated runners and losing defensive discipline when Australia entered multi-phase play.
The Wallabies will fancy their chances in Perth, especially with Will Skelton back in the mix.
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**52 Games and Counting for the All Blacks at Eden Park**
The Wallabies still haven’t won here since 1986. The Bledisloe Cup will remain in Kiwi hands, as it has been since 2003.
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**Full-time: New Zealand 33-24 Australia**
The All Blacks beat the Wallabies at Eden Park.
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**79 mins:** McKenzie slaps a massive kick into touch on the left, 10 meters out from the lineout. The lineout is tipped off the top and New Zealand work the ball infield. The ball returns to the short side with Tuipulotu and Rakai, but the Wallabies defend resolutely. Into phase nine, with Jordan trying to tiptoe through the line. It ends abruptly as McKenzie knocks-on at his bootlaces.
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**77 mins:** Scrum penalty to the All Blacks on halfway. Australia have been valiant this afternoon, but their Eden Park drought will continue.
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**Converted Try! New Zealand 33-24 Australia**
30 meters out just to the left of the posts, McKenzie kicks to put New Zealand beyond a converted try ahead.
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**54 mins:** The Wallabies win their scrum feed inside their own half and get into their phase grind in midfield. O’Connor does well in contact twice and earns a penalty when Savea is called offside.
From 45 meters out, Australia opts not to take the three points but kicks to the corner instead. And what on earth was that!? Running from miles out of play, Carter somehow manages to keep the ball in play! The long kick downfield turns the Wallabies on their heels. The ball is punted back, but J Barrett hits it like a freight train, and the All Blacks are on the burst. A breakdown penalty seems inevitable.
A huge turnaround in this match—from O’Connor having the opportunity to set Australia on attack to New Zealand being invited to extend their lead.
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**52 mins:** Roigard directs the set play to the right, and some neat combinations threaten to break the game open, but the Wallabies defend well on their left edge. New Zealand tries to maintain the pace of play, but as Ikitau executes a jamming tackle, the ball is offloaded forward.
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**50 mins:** Another gift for New Zealand as O’Connor kicks the restart out on the full. The All Blacks will feed a scrum on halfway.
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**Half-time: New Zealand 20-17 Australia**
That was a half of two halves. The All Blacks raced into a 20-3 lead and looked capable of running up a cricket score with their slick ball movement and power at the gainline. But the Wallabies regrouped well and took advantage of some poor discipline from New Zealand, as well as some questionable tactics—namely committing so few bodies to attacking rucks—to first stem the flow, then control possession to patiently pick their moments and bring the scoreline to something approaching parity.
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**Converted Try! New Zealand 20-17 Australia**
Pollard finds Hooper in the middle of the lineout and the maul drives to within inches of the line. Ikitau peels off the back and forces the All Blacks to scramble, but it’s to no avail as Pollard is at the breakdown in a flash and picks and dives over with the minimum of fuss. Straightforward, old-fashioned, clinical.
O’Connor adds the extras, cutting the deficit to 10.
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**30 mins:** From the lineout, the Wallabies attack from right to left, but it’s slow and lateral until they’re awarded a penalty that allows O’Connor to kick to touch for a 5-meter lineout.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/sep/27/bledisloe-cup-live-updates-new-zealand-all-blacks-vs-wallabies-australia-rugby-championship-scores-results-kick-off-time-eden-park-auckland