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Rugby Championship All Blacks V Australia 27th September 2025 Eden Park
By Paul Rolton
After suffering a record test defeat in their last outing the All Blacks were looking for redemption at their beloved Eden park, where they had not lost a test in 31 years, against their old foe, Australia with the Bledisloe cup also on the line.
The All blacks started well with captain for the day Ardie Savea leading an early charge down the right hand side followed by a great run from halfback Cam Roigard to set the Wallabies on the back foot. Fabian Holland, in for injured skipper Scott Barrett pulled in his second uncontested lineout take, and then the tight forwards went to work after which Wallace Sititi twice carried strongly before the All Blacks went wide, Will Jordan chimed in from fullback and with a perfectly timed pass recalled left wing Caleb Clarke went over in the left hand corner, and after 3 minutes the All Blacks could not have basked for a better start.
Australia were next to score in the 7th minute with 2025 Crusader James O’Connor collecting a simple penalty from out in front when The All Blacks were picked up for an early tackle.
A great turnover from big All Black lock Tupou Vaa’i saw another attack down Clarke’s wing, and when the Wallabies were penalised for wrongful entry into the ensuing ruck Roigard took the quick tap and lead his side to within a few yards of the Wallabies line. A strong surge from Billy Procter was followed again by Vai’i rampaging out wide before another penalty, this time right in front had the Beauden Barrett penalty take the score to 8-3 after just 9 minutes.
The All Blacks showed how keen they were to play straight from the kick of where Holland was useful with ball in hand, Jordan was involved taking a great highball catch above his Australian counterpart and again Roigard showing his value when he made yards after a nice snipe down the lefthand side.
The All Blacks were relentless in their attack, with the Wallabies not having position for a 4-minute period as the All Blacks kept the ball in hand and attacked in wave after wave. The next try was classic All Blacks rugby, another Holland lineout saw them go into the mid field big carries followed from Simon Parker, Tyrell Lomax and Cody Taylor before Jordie Barrett made a big charge, followed by Savea before Leroy Carter came into halfback and snuck over down the right hand side for the All Blacks 2nd try, which Barrett again was unable to convert, and after 13 minutes the Wallabies were facing a 10 point deficit.
Try as they might the Wallabies just could not crack the All Blacks defense, a poor penalty kick from O’Connor didn’t go out and was returned with interest by Jordan and when O’Connor was caught in possession just out from his defensive 22 things were looking tough for the Australians.
Tate McDermott was replaced by Ryan Lonergan at 9 after the former was assisted off with a leg injury, and another turnover forced the Wallabies back into their own half.
A no arms tackle from Australian captain Harry Wilson saw referee Andrea Piardi of Italy reverse a penalty and the All Blacks turned down three 3 to have a go for the 7 pointer. From 5 metres out the All Blacks again go to reliable Holland who secures another clean take to set the All Blacks on attack. With Jordie Barrett, Savea and Parker again prominent the All Black take the attack close to the goal post. Lomax goes close as does Holland before Roigard takes it back left to go over untouched and with Beauden Barrett converting from out in front it was all the New Zealand side as they lead 20-3 after 25 minutes.
Beauden Barrett was replaced a few minutes later with a shoulder injury that will see him out of the return test in Perth, replaced by Damien McKenzie.
Some sloppy break down play gave the Wallabies two soft penalties and after a 5 metre lineout and a good mid field attack from Lenny Ikitau, Billy Pollard crashed over to bring his side back into the game at 20-10 after 30 minutes. In the act of tackling Pollard Holland and Ethan De Groot collided which ended DeGroot’s night after an HIA.
The Wallabies were starting to get more ball, and their confidence started to grow, as they started stringing phases together and putting their counterparts under pressure. The All Blacks attacked from a defensive scrum, however another breakdown penalty saw the Australians back onto attack. Wave after wave of attack with Ikitau leading the charge and when Harry Potter come from his right hand wing to take a little pop pass from that man Ikitau again he crossed unopposed and the O’Connor conversion had the game leading into halftime at 20-17, after the Aussie’s had looked out of it 15 minutes earlier.
A 47th minute penalty from McKenzie from 40 metres out gave the All Blacks some breathy space as both sides went toe to toe trying to gain ascendancy.
Another breakdown penalty, this time against Australia’s Fraser McReight, saw McKenzie push the All Blacks lead out to 9 points after 54 minutes with his 2nd penalty this time from 37 metres out.
Both sides had moments on attack with Jordie Barrett and Jordan for the All Blacks and Potter and Ikitau for Australia leading the way. However it was the Wallabies that struck next, Captain Harry Wilson set up the movement that lead to a 5 metre attacking lineout for his side and after a great lineout drive it was replacement loose forward Carlo Tizzano who found himself with the try as his side drove him over the line, the O’Connor conversion had it at 26-24 with only ten minutes to go and the Bledisloe Cup looked like anyone’s.
The decisive play came for the All Blacks after Potter was yellow carded with 7 minutes to play with another breakdown penalty. The All Blacks went close when replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was held up over the line and from the ensuing line dropout replacement loose forward Peter Lakai carried strongly before Jordie Barrett got on the outside of the Aussie defense and found Quin Tupaea on his inside shoulder and he in turn found the outstanding Roigard taking the mid field route to score his second and the decisive try of the match keeping the cup in New Zealand for another year. McKenzie slotted the conversion and try as they might the Wallabies were unable to close up the 33-24 result.
Outstanding for the All Blacks were jack in the box winger Carter, Jordie Barrett had his best test of the season, being prominent on both attack and defense, whilst both Savea and Vaa’i were outstanding at breakdown time, with Savea leading from the front. The 46 minutes that Clarke had on the wing showed that he needs to start when fit, and the coaching staff will hope he is for the return fixture.
McReight and Ikitau were the Wallabies best though they may well look back at this test as the one that got away, you can’t give the All Blacks a 20-3 start and hope to beat their near neighbors at home.
Whilst the All Black’s, and especially their under-pressure coach Scott Robertson, will be happy to get out of this one with the Eden Park unbeaten run in tack, there are still some warning bells.
The forward battle was very even at scrum time, an area where some would have hoped the All Blacks may have gained some dominance. The coaching staff won’t be happy having let the Aussies back into the game after 20 minutes when they need to turn the knife and lock the game down, however they were unable to find that knockout blow.
Onwards to Perth next week where both sides will be keen to improve on this game, and the All Blacks will be looking to sort their issues around the break down and lineout defense.