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New Zealand

Really exceptional play in the first 40 from the All Blacks who demonstrated so much patience and support play that got them well ahead on the scoresheet, while the Wallabies benefitted from some winning penalties & used the resets well to stay in contention but needs time to execute better if they are to keep the Bledisloe Cup series alive.

HALF-TIME: All Blacks 21-15 Wallabies

Unfortunately, Wallabies didn’t change/learn much after the break especially with the passage of play being too wide that sums up their poor processing, while the All Blacks have taken advantage when given the ball & they bossed the game in return.

You see the forwards and backline working together alongside the quick & narrow passes before the home side racked up a few big scores that is too easy for them to win games.

FULL-TIME: All Blacks 57-22 Wallabies

Such an entertainment of attacking football to watch from the Men in Black who retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 19th consecutive season as the Wallabies turn their attention to the Rugby Championship now for a fresh start & go from there.

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Such a close first half from the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, having seen both teams make up an early sequence of tight defense & three-point penalty goals.

But it’s the All Blacks who lead 16-8 at the break where they were patient on all fronts, while Wallabies did find a way past the opposition thanks to Hunter Paisami on the midfield who helped Andrew Kellaway score a debut TRY.

It’s just the slow starts and their lack of execution so far held the Wallabies back as they need to stop the All Blacks from scoring before looking to be patient when given the ball.

Although, the Wallabies did score a couple of consolation scores thanks to a Tom Banks double & Jordan Uelese brace towards the final siren.

Unfortunately, they didn’t improve much despite creating chances & winning penalties that led to more limited time against the ball, as the All Blacks cap off a brilliant start to the 2021 Bledisloe Cup Series 1-0 by 8 points (33-25).

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Richie Mo’unga has to be the first men in black player that helped distance themselves away from the Wallabies tonight at No.10/first five-eighth.

His kicking has been superb in contrast to Noah Lolesio whose long kicks into the goal didn’t work out while creating plenty of chances going forward.

And Mo’unga was able to turn this magic around into a series of complete executions in front of the Wallabies danger zone, there’s credit coming from their poor communication before cashing themselves in alongside the support runners that made the All Blacks so dominant in attack mightily after half-time.

Ardie Savea also played well in the All Blacks back three at Number 8, having read & tackled the Wallabies poor attacking executions/patience.

It helped protect his side’s defense that made the All Blacks a whole lot easier to dominate when given the turnover/intercept/winning penalties, especially for the majority after half-time.

Throw in Ardie and his other fowards who can give a helping hand with the backline being patient through the channels, which is excellent tactics that the Wallabies couldn’t catch up in terms of attacking football.

And Tate McDermott puts in a great shift at half-back for the Wallabies who possess so much passing & physicality all game long combined with pace.

The build up momentum is there for a start in the defense that helped his side win the ball through winning penalties, it’s something how the Wallabies remained close to the All Blacks in the first 30-35 mins.

Although, McDermott created chances along the way just like the start of a attacking production line when given the ball but the decoy runners around him let him down due to a lack of finishing mightily, even though the late consolation turnaround alone wasn’t enough to upset on their home turf.

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Glad to see the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman leg going ahead. When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderh gave the green light yesterday. So Australia and New Zealand are allowed to travel each other. Without the need to quarantine in return for just both of us.

The earliest we can travel to NZ begins on April 19. Which is just right ahead of Anzac Day on April 25. I cannot wait personally to see one of the New Zealand teams come here. And battle against the best of the Australian sides. We might be on the closing stages of the Super Rugby AU at Week 8. Two weeks of round-Robin match ups. Followed by a Qualifying Final & Final. The Aotearoa portion catches up just after six rounds of play. With four weeks left followed by the one big final.

Then we have the condensed five round competition. Plus the Final before the International Tests come in. It will be the best sides of both countries. I would love the Super Round to happen. Where all 10 teams get to play a week in the one venue. But it will not happen for just this year. Fingers crossed for 2022 though.

It does not mean we will be able to go to another state. Or pop up a weekend in the Ditch before going home on Sunday.

There is no better time right now to see Crusaders v Brumbies. Two of the best in each end. As well as Blues v Reds where they both resurged in their own domestic portions. It will benefit the best of Australia and New Zealand. Helping each other out to test these limits. Which is going to be more competitive. And even entertaining in the long-run. That would finally see the Wallabies win the silverware off NZ every few years.

Although the Super Rugby AU has been wonderful since mid-2020. You have all five Australian teams batting out for the one title. It makes most sports fans here reignite the game. With more exciting rules via the 50/22 or 22/50 kick. Plus the Goal Line Drop Out. More free kicks. And the Golden TRY through extra time.

But the only weakness is this competition runs for 10-12 weeks. Unlike the Aussie Rules & Rugby League. The full transition into a 20-24 week Trans-Tasman comp from 2022 will help. Teams such as South Africa, Argentina & Japan are not there anymore. Which saves long travel times and overnight stays up. That is no more.

Image Reference: Wikipedia

And I am saving it on Friday May 14 as the opening date. Highlanders face the Queensland Reds in Dunedin. As well as sometime during any of the five rounds on-site. We just cannot wait to watch both as a fan and update here on this blog!

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