SECOND-HALF ALL BLACKS BLITZ SINKS QANTAS WALLABIES IN BLEDISLOE CUP OPENER

Aug 19 • General News, International • 1527 Views • Comments Off on SECOND-HALF ALL BLACKS BLITZ SINKS QANTAS WALLABIES IN BLEDISLOE CUP OPENER

Australia 13 (Jack Maddocks try; Bernard Foley con; Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge pens) was defeated by New Zealand 38 (Waisake Naholo 2, Aaron Smith, Jack Goodhue, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick tries; Beauden Barrett 4 cons)

Match summary:
The Qantas Wallabies have fallen 38-13 to New Zealand in the 2018 Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night.

In front of 66,318 fans, the Wallabies made a promising start and were strong defensively in a first half which produced only one try.

The men in gold went into the break leading 6-5 after a penalty goal each from Reece Hodge and Bernard Foley were the only points either side could muster until New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith crossed in the 39^th minute from some brilliant hands on the right touchline.

The visitors were quick to erase the narrow half-time deficit, and then went right on with the job scoring five second-half tries including a double to winger Waisake Naholo.

Set-piece struggles and compounding errors were ultimately the downfall for the Wallabies, their only bright spot in the second half a runaway try finished by debutant back, Jack Maddocks.

Wallabies fullback Israel Folau left the field midway through the second half and finished the night on crutches after rolling his ankle upon landing on a New Zealand foot after contesting for a high ball.

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick was named man-of-the-match for another influential display which he capped with a try immediately after Folau left the field, which ultimately put the game out of reach for the Wallabies.
As it happened:
10 mins: Reece Hodge pen AUS 3-0 NZ
21 mins: Bernard Foley pen AUS 6-0 NZ
39 mins: Aaron Smith try AUS 6-5 NZ
43 mins: Jack Goodhue try, Beauden Barret con AUS 6-12 NZ
52 mins: Beauden Barrett try, Beauden Barrett con AUS 6-19 NZ
62 mins: Brodie Retallick try, Beauden Barrett con AUS 6-26
66 mins: Jack Maddocks try, Bernard Foley con AUS 13-26
73 mins: Waisake Naholo try AUS 13-31 AUS 13-26
75 mins: Waisake Naholo try, Beauden Barrett AUS 13-38 NZ

Qantas Wallabies
15. Israel Folau (22. Matt Toomua, 64 mins) 14. Dane Haylett-Petty (23. Jack Maddocks, 53 mins) 13. Reece Hodge 12. Kurtley Beale 11. Marika Koroibete 10. Bernard Foley 9. Will Genia (21. Nick Phipps, 73 mins) 8. David Pocock 7. Michael Hooper (c) (20. Pete Samu, 73 mins) 6. Lukhan Tui 5. Adam Coleman 4. Izack Rodda (19. Rob Simmons, 64 mins) 3. Sekope Kepu (17. Allan Alaalatoa, 58 mins, 18. Jermaine Ainsley (blood), 34 mins) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (16. Tolu Latu, 46 mins) 1. Tom Robertson (18. Jermaine Ainsley, 73 mins)
*replacements in brackets

New Zealand
15. Ben Smith 14. Waisake Naholo 13. Jack Goodhue 12. Ryan Crotty (23. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 mins) 11. Rieko Ioane (22. Damian McKenzie, 46 mins)10. Beauden Barrett 9. Aaron Smith (21. TJ Perenara, 67 mins) 8. Kieran Read (c) 7. Sam Cane (20. Ardie Savea, 69 mins) 6. Liam Squire (19. Scott Barrett, 58 mins) 5. Sam Whitelock 4. Brodie Retallick 3. Owen Franks (17. Karl Tu’inukuafe, 59 mins) 2. Codie Taylor (16. Nathan Harris, 67 mins) 1. Joe Moody (18. Tim Perry, 53 mins)

Match Notes:
Opening Test of the 2018 Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup
New Zealand leads best of three Bledisloe Cup series 1-0
Jermaine Ainsley – Test debut, Wallaby #921
Jack Maddocks – Test debut, Wallaby #922