A night which started with questions over New Zealand’s consistency and ended with South Africa winning the Rugby Championship on points differential will be regarded as a big success for head coach Scott Robertson.
After being blown away by the Springboks in Wellington and showing resilience at Eden Park a fortnight later to retain the Bledisloe Cup, the re-jigged All Blacks showed composure and accuracy in Perth to win back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests for the first time this year.
Their 28-14 victory in what developed into torrential rain at Optus Stadium was not without its flaws, but the All Blacks scored four tries to one, were far better defensively, and, perhaps most crucially of all, adapted to the conditions and played with more strategic intelligence than their opponents.
Breaking down the key moments as national side overcome Wallabies - watch on TVNZ+
The final point in the above list has not always been evident over nine Tests this year, but, led by Jordie Barrett and the remarkable Quinn Tupaea, who scored two tries in three first-half minutes, the All Blacks put the ball behind the Wallabies and forced the home side to chase the game. It was a pragmatic and occasionally clinical display and, again, these are not necessarily qualities associated with this team.
They enjoyed their fair share of luck – including Jordie Barrett’s unintentional headed assist for Tupaea’s first try – but, even though the Wallabies hit back in the second half to narrow the score to 20-14 with a quarter remaining, there were no signs of the flightiness and defensive vulnerability that have haunted them this year.
“The mental toughness and the grit that we showed and the ability to stay in the match,” was Robertson’s reply when asked to sum up his team’s performance. “In past games we probably would have let teams back in.”
Robertson, speaking before the Boks edged Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham to clinch the trophy for the second consecutive year, said he and his men were aware of the Wallabies’ motivation in wanting to send veteran prop James Slipper, playing in his 151st and final Test, off on the right note.
He would also have been aware of how poor Australia have started most Tests in this Rugby Championship.
Joe Schmidt’s men were better from the off last night but losing giant lock Will Skelton to a head injury after only 15 minutes and then flanker Tom Hooper to a yellow card for a dangerous cleanout on Jordie Barrett had the home side on the back foot again.
“It’s pleasing to finish the Rugby Championship like that,” skipper Scott Barrett said. “It wasn’t pretty but we hung tough tonight in greasy conditions. We adapted. Throughout this Rugby Championship we learned we need to front up every week when we put the All Blacks’ jersey on.
“A couple of times we clearly didn’t do that. Those are tough lessons. This group has a few scars from that. We want to have a bit of a refresh before we head up north and chase a Grand Slam.
“Without looking too far ahead, Will Jordan’s 50th tonight and George Bower scoring his first professional try… we’ll celebrate a few little things tonight.”
The “scars” Barrett referred to were the losses to the Pumas in Buenos Aires and the Boks at the Cake Tin. Both were big setbacks and historic for different reasons; the former the first time the All Blacks have lost in Argentina and the latter a record defeat.
The pack controlled the set piece well enough to suggest it is moving in the right direction ahead of the northern tour and Tests against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales and the backline played with enough precision, even despite Damian McKenzie’s difficult evening in the No.10 jersey, to suggest they will create problems for any defence.
McKenzie, in for the injured Beauden Barrett, missed four shots at goal - several were relatively easy - and did not steer his team around with Barrett's authority.
Robertson again spoke about the need to create depth – four in each position – ahead of the 2027 World Cup and, with Tupaea making such a good fist of centre in place of Billy Proctor, the Chiefs man is presumably now near the top of the list for the No.13 jersey.
Indeed, one of the few puzzling decisions made by the All Blacks last night was the move by Robertson to replace Tupaea with Rieko Ioane after 57 minutes.
Leicester Fainga’anuku was powerful and busy in the No.11 jersey in his first Test since the last World Cup, with Leroy Carter continuing his remarkable streak on the right wing when scoring his third try in three Tests.
Peter Lakai was solid in the No.8 jersey, with replacements Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu and Wallace Sititi providing impact and accuracy off the bench.
Another positive for Robertson and his men: no injuries, a rare luxury this year.
The All Blacks’ first Test of their northern tour is against Ireland in Chicago on November 2.
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