New Zealand Climbs to Top with 28-14 Victory Over Australia
New Zealand secured its position at the top of the Rugby Championship standings after defeating Australia 28-14 at Optus Stadium on Saturday. Despite the All Blacks’ success, the Springboks maintain the upper hand, requiring only a win against Argentina at Allianz Stadium in London to retain their championship title.
This match also marked another Bledisloe Cup victory for New Zealand, representing their 11th consecutive win over the Wallabies. Following this win, New Zealand sits on 18 points after six matches, while Australia concludes its campaign with 11 points. The Springboks, currently at 15 points, need simply to win against Argentina—without the necessity of a bonus point—to secure back-to-back championships for the first time.
James Slipper Retires After Historic Career
The fixture also signified the final Test for Australia’s most capped player, James Slipper, who retires after a remarkable career. The 36-year-old prop completes his journey with 134 caps, making him the most capped Wallaby of all time and the most capped international prop in rugby history, surpassing Ireland’s Cian Healy by 14 Tests.
Slipper is now part of an exclusive group of Test centurions, with only Welsh great Alun Wyn Jones (171) and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock (153) exceeding his cap total. It is noteworthy that his last Test was in Perth, the same city where he made his debut in 2010 against England.
Match Recap
The All Blacks opened the scoring with a try from Leroy Carter, but Australia quickly responded with three penalties courtesy of Tane Edmed. A pivotal moment arose when Tom Hooper was sin-binned for a dangerous “croc roll,” which cost the Wallabies an opportunity for a try from Allan Alaalatoa.
New Zealand capitalized on this, with Quinn Tupaea scoring twice before halftime, leading to a 17-9 advantage for the visitors at the break. Australia’s difficulties increased when Len Ikitau was shown a yellow card after a head clash, which fortunately did not escalate to a red card.
In the second half, Damian McKenzie extended the All Blacks’ lead with a penalty kick before Ikitau scored Australia’s only try. However, another penalty from McKenzie, plus a late score from George Bower, cemented New Zealand's victory, allowing them to retain both the Bledisloe Cup and their top position in the tournament.
Looking Ahead: Springboks Determine Championship Outcome
As the All Blacks celebrate their victory in Perth, all attention shifts to the upcoming Springboks vs Argentina clash in London. A win for the Springboks—regardless of any bonus points—will ensure they secure the Rugby Championship title, placing the All Blacks in second despite their impressive finish.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!