Wallabies’ Late Fightback Falls Short as All Blacks Secure 31-28 Victory
In front of 68,061 fans at Accor Stadium, the Wallabies came agonizingly close to completing a sensational comeback, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome a disastrous start as the All Blacks held on for a 31-28 win. It marked the 23rd straight year that the Wallabies have failed to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup, but their second-half resurgence gave the crowd plenty to cheer about.
First-Half Woes: Wallabies Crumble Early
The Wallabies got off to the worst possible start, conceding three tries in the first 15 minutes. Just two minutes in, Noah Lolesio fumbled a high ball and, after a defensive lapse by Angus Bell, Will Jordan easily ran in the opening try. The All Blacks wasted no time adding a second through Rieko Ioane in the eighth minute, taking full advantage of Australia's mistakes.
Caleb Clarke then intercepted a pass from Harry Wilson in the 12th minute, sprinting through the Wallabies' defense to score and extend New Zealand’s lead to 21-0, leaving the home side staring at a long afternoon ahead.
However, the Wallabies struck back in the 18th minute with a well-executed lineout move that saw Fraser McReight finish off a slick sequence involving Rob Valetini and Nic White, giving Australia a glimmer of hope. But just as the Wallabies began to rally, another turnover allowed Sevu Reece to race upfield and set up Ardie Savea for the All Blacks' fourth try.
At 28-7, it looked like the match might slip away entirely, but Australia managed to pull one back before halftime. Hooker Matt Faessler powered through the All Blacks' defense to score, bringing the Wallabies to within 14 points at 28-14 as they headed to the locker rooms.
Second-Half Fightback: Wallabies Show Grit
The second half saw the All Blacks continue to apply pressure, but a string of disallowed tries and errors prevented them from sealing the game. Ardie Savea had a try ruled held up in the 51st minute, saving the Wallabies from further damage. Another All Blacks score was disallowed for a forward pass shortly afterward.
With the All Blacks unable to capitalize on their opportunities, the Wallabies began to fight back. Impact from the bench players, including James Slipper in his milestone 140th Test, gave Australia fresh legs, and they found gaps in the New Zealand defense. In the 65th minute, Hunter Paisami crashed over, narrowing the deficit to 31-21.
The All Blacks’ discipline began to falter, with Anton Lienert-Brown and Caleb Clarke both being sent to the sin bin, reducing New Zealand to 13 men. The Wallabies took advantage of the numerical superiority, with Tom Wright crossing in the 78th minute to make it 31-28.
Too Little, Too Late
Despite the dramatic late surge, the Wallabies couldn’t complete the comeback. Needing a final push in the last minute, they turned over possession from the kick-off, allowing the All Blacks to escape with the win. It was a heart-wrenching defeat for Australia, who will head into next week’s rematch in Wellington without a chance to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup.
For the Wallabies, the match was a story of missed opportunities and costly errors in the first half, while for the All Blacks, it was a game of two halves: dominance in the first, followed by a scrappy second period. Although the Wallabies couldn’t complete the comeback, their resilience in the face of adversity will give them something to build on ahead of the next encounter.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s late fightback was thrilling, but it was too little, too late. The Wallabies will be left to ponder what could have been if not for their early mistakes, while the All Blacks will be relieved to have held on for the victory, despite squandering several chances to close out the game in the second half. With the Bledisloe Cup now out of reach, the Wallabies will look to salvage pride in next week’s clash, while New Zealand will aim to tighten up and avoid a similar scare.
