New Zealand Retain Bledisloe Cup With 50-19 Win Over Australia

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd consecutive year after beating Australia 50-19 at Eden Park, extending their long unbeaten record at the ground.

The All Blacks led 17-14 at half-time before taking control after the break, scoring five tries in a dominant second-half display. The result stretched New Zealand’s unbeaten run at Eden Park to 54 Tests, with the venue having last seen an All Blacks defeat in 1994. Australia’s last victory there came in 1986.

Damian McKenzie finished with 15 points for New Zealand, kicking six conversions and a penalty. The hosts’ tries came from Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan.

Australia scored through Tom Wright, captain Harry Wilson and Josh Nasser, while Lonergan added two conversions. The Wallabies began strongly and took an early lead through Wright, but New Zealand hit back with tries from Lakai and Vaa’i, helped by Roigard’s effective kicking. Wilson’s try kept Australia within three points at the interval.

New Zealand pulled away after the restart. Roigard crossed early in the second half, and Taylor, Carter, Moorby and Jordan followed as the All Blacks overwhelmed the visitors. Nasser scored a late consolation try for Australia, but the match was already settled.

The victory ended New Zealand’s three-match losing streak, which had followed a 3-1 series defeat by world champions South Africa. For Australia, it was a first loss under head coach Les Kiss since he replaced Joe Schmidt in July, ending a six-game unbeaten run.

The second Test of the two-match series will be played at Accor Stadium in Sydney on 17 October.