6 d. ago New Zealand hold firm against Australia as All Blacks extend Eden Park streak

New Zealand 33-24 Australia: The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup but had to hold off a spirited Australian fightback

Economics

6 d. ago Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand beat Australia in the Rugby Championship – reaction

All Blacks win 33-24 to preserve Eden Park recordAny thoughts? Get in touch with an email The Wallabies are being led onto the Eden Park turf by No 1 James Slipper. Today he becomes only the third international to register 150 caps.Australia are wearing their traditional golden jerseys, green shorts, green socks. Continue reading...

Sport

6 d. ago Wallabies fall short in Bledisloe Cup as All Blacks’ Eden Park hoodoo strikes again

New Zealand beat Australia 33-24 in Rugby ChampionshipKiwi Fortress still not breached after 51 Tests over 31 yearsAustralia’s Eden Park hoodoo will enter a fourth decade after New Zealand saw off another exciting Wallabies comeback to clinch a 33-24 win at their fortress and ensure the Bledisloe Cup remains in the All Blacks’ hands for a 24th consecutive year.Despite two decades of one-way traffic, this Bledisloe Test was the most tantalising in years. New Zealand were the Rugby Championship’s fastest starters and Australia the slowest. So for the Wallabies to be 13-3 down after 15 minutes surprised few. The men in black were red hot from the get-go, moving with cohesion and precision, each pass and kick a dagger. Australia were back-pedalling, making mistakes, losing collisions. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Bledisloe Cup live updates: New Zealand All Blacks v Australia Wallabies – Rugby Championship

Updates as the All Blacks host the Wallabies in AucklandKick-off time at Eden Park is 5.05pm NZST/3.05pm AESTAny thoughts? Get in touch with an emailAngus Fontaine sets the scene from an Australian perspective.To beat New Zealand at home, all the stars must align. You’ve got to pick a smart side, play the right style, win over the referee and catch a little luck along the way. Silencing the crowd early, with fast points or fierce attack and defence, helps too. Even then, there are no guarantees against the All Blacks. And they are never more dangerous than when wounded, as Scott Robertson’s side certainly is after their worst ever Test defeat last week, a 43-10 spifflication by South Africa in Wellington.Yet instead of smelling blood and making plans to dismantle an enemy in disarray, the Wallabies inexplicably sent two of their most important players on magical mystery tours to the far side of the planet. James O’Connor and Will Skelton were allowed to return to their clubs Leicest...

Sport

9 d. ago ‘It was hectic’: Memories of the last time the Wallabies won at Eden Park in 1986 | Angus Fontaine

The All Blacks’ Auckland fortress has been impregnable for over 30 years but those Australians who last tasted victory there are backing Joe Schmidt’s current crop to emulate themIf “it’s the hope that kills you” then Wallabies fans have been dying a slow death for 39 years at Eden Park, the venue for this Saturday’s first Test of the Bledisloe Cup.The Auckland venue is the All Blacks’ fortress. They have not lost there since 1994 and are unbeaten across 51 Tests (49 wins, two draws). No Australian team has won at Eden Park since the 1986 side led by Andrew Slack and coached by Alan Jones. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Wallabies fall short of huge comeback in Rugby Championship defeat by Pumas

Fast-finishing Australia lose 28-26 to Argentina in SydneyJoe Schmidt’s side pay price for conceding 13 penalties With their backs to the wall again after an error strewn hour had left them 18 points behind, the Wallabies looked forlornly to the Allianz Stadium grandstands and saw Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh sitting with John Howard. Surely this was the omen they needed to emulate the former Prime Minister’s famous “Lazarus with a triple-bypass” comeback.Joe Schmidt’s side have a reputation for rising from the ashes with last-gasp victories. They beat England in November with a last-play roll of the dice and they shocked Argentina last week with a try in overtime. Today, in another rousing fightback before 41,912 in Sydney, they clawed their way back to trail 28-26 with seconds left on the clock. Continue reading...

Sport