A huge Saturday of Rugby continues with Game 1 of the two-match Bledisloe Cup series as well as the 3rd & last round of the 2023 Rugby Championship between the Wallabies & All Blacks. We are also back in Melbourne after last year’s home match at Docklands Stadium but this time it’s over at the famed MCG for their first game in 15 years that goes back to 2007.
Gotta say that the first half might have seen the Wallabies get their hopes up with a slight two-point lead courtesy a brilliant Rob Valetini TRY, but an Allan Alaalatoa injury combined with the Marika Koroibete yellow card saw the All Blacks rebound way in front ahead of the break 7-19.
Nothing much has changed unfortunately from the Wallabies end despite some winning penalties/turnovers before the ABs keep on scoring as they were just too good to not only secure the win 7-38, but they also retained both the Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup for another year as well. While the long-running drought for the Wallabies to try & regain the historic Trans-Tasman trophy continues for year 21, there’s one more Bledisloe game left next Saturday arvo at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, NZ.
Let’s start with Will Jordan who was absolutely outstanding on the All Blacks wide right position like he does all the time in a Crusaders shirt at No.14. Gotta love his finishing ability in the way he processes the ball that led to TRY after TRY before he & the ABs were just too good in the end – such as his own 40th minute big score & his TRY assist to Mark Talea later in the 2nd half. He just never stops running & working hard both ways.
Next up is Will’s fellow Crusaders & All Blacks team-mate Scott Barrett down on the second row (No.5) after an all-round effort tonight. He has such a tall frame that allows him to see what the Wallabies were up to at the other end, so he can hold them accountable in his tracks while building some patience with the ball. That way, he helped his attackers express themselves through the gate, which made the ABs scoring life easier v the Wallabies.
They are both championship-winning players through & through, having helped retain Super Rugby, Rugby Championship & the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
And Angus Bell has been the No.1 Wallabies player tonight on the front row at loosehead. Love the way he pushes hard when it comes to his physical application on what has been a huge effort that led to some rewards as being tested both in attack and defense. It’s a shame that the rest weren’t on the same page in the hope of matching the standard set by the ABs, especially when injuries sadly spoiled their good start & he had to come off at one point the 1st time due Taniela Tupou’s rash yellow card tackle.
