Same story, different year.
The Wallabies produced another miserable performance at Eden Park in a 40-14 defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday that has intensified the heat on coach Dave Rennie.
Two first-half yellow cards played a part in the Wallabies trailing 17-0 at the break before New Zealand capitalised on ill-discipline to pump their trans-Tasman rivals by 26 points.
Nine days after almost pulling off a sensational win in Melbourne, the Wallabies failed to score a try until the 59th minute in all too familiar fashion at a ground that has haunted Australian teams for decades.
Some things never change. It was Australia’s 23rd consecutive loss against New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986.
The performance wasn’t as diabolical as last year’s 57-22 thumping at the same venue but it had an air of inevitability about it from the opening whistle.
Len Ikitau is tackled by Jordie Barrett.Credit:Getty
“Massive disappointment,” Rennie said on Stan Sport. “We gave away too many penalties and lost the collisions and gave the All Blacks field position, they put us in the corner and hurt us. We were shaded in all areas tonight.
“We coughed up too much soft ball.”
Captain James Slipper added: “Just gutted the way we performed tonight. It just wasn’t good enough. That’s a very disappointing outcome for us tonight.”
The All Blacks certainly put to bed suggestions the Wallabies may have been capable of winning the Bledisloe Cup this year.
Australia vowed to channel deep feelings of injustice into a big performance at Eden Park but New Zealand had the last laugh.
Although this Test lacked some context, with the Bledisloe Cup already polished for another year at New Zealand Rugby headquarters, Australia’s enthusiasm and accuracy just wasn’t up to scratch.
Bernard Foley was starved of space by the All Blacks.Credit:Getty
Decision-making, not effort, contributed to Australia’s downfall. When Tom Wright took a quick tap and then kicked ahead aimlessly, the Kiwis did what they do so often: they counter-attacked, pinned Australia down their own end, and applied enough pressure to come away with seven points.
New Zealand won the collisions and kicked cleverly.
Bernard Foley was serviceable at No.10 but New Zealand starved him of time and space. There was a nice intercept and no horror moments but the 33-year-old couldn’t swing momentum Australia’s way.
Foley screamed in anger as he knocked on in the dying minutes, summing up the mood of teammates around him.
Harry Wilson’s return to the Test arena was impressive, while Pete Samu’s stocks continued to rise.
Not for the first time this year, the Wallabies struggled to back up a decent performance the week before.
Under Rennie, the Wallabies have won one of nine Tests against the All Blacks (one was a draw). His overall Test record has dipped below 40 per cent, which is worse than any other Wallabies coach in the professional era.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan insists Rennie will coach the Wallabies at the World Cup regardless of what happens in the next 12 months.
The reality is the Wallabies are ranked ninth in the world – their worst ever position. Some would say the rankings mean nothing but there is no ambiguity about nine losses from 12 Tests.
Jed Holloway, who played through pain in the second half, produced an early line break that all second-rowers dream of but had his bubble burst two minutes into the Test when he was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
Yet somehow, despite repeated All Blacks attacking threats, Australia made it to the 12-minute mark without conceding a point.
Sloppy starts have killed the Wallabies this year and this was a welcome change for Rennie, who probably would have taken a 3-0 deficit after 21 minutes.
But two tries in four minutes – one to Will Jordan and then a penalty try – put the Wallabies in a huge hole, trailing 17-0. They never recovered.
With hooker Dave Porecki in the bin, the men in gold were even forced to give a lineout throw to Samu, a back-rower.
Australia’s only real scoring opportunity in the first 40 minutes was pulled back when replays showed Marika Koroibete’s foot had gone into touch before he planted the ball down.
Folau Fainga’a and Jordan Petaia bagged tries in the second half when the game was done.
The Wallabies have a month off before they play the first of five Tests in Europe and the break can’t come soon enough after a demoralising outing in front of Kiwi fans who loved every moment of it.
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