All Blacks cruise to victory over Wallabies despite Barrett red card

Sun, Sep 5, 2021, 8:05 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The All Blacks cruised to victory as they defeated the Wallabies at Optus Stadium

The All Blacks have cruised to a 38-21 victory over the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Test.

Ian Foster's men have already secured the trophy for another year after two successive wins at Eden Park and raced out to an early lead thanks to two penalties from Beauden Barrett and a try to brother Jordie.

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Jordie would shortly receive a red card as he went to catch a bomb, lashing out at Marika Koroibete and collecting him in the head.

However, this failed to halt the All Blacks as they scored before the break, scoring four second-half tries to seal the victory.

Needing a fast start, it was the returning Samu Kerevi that burst the All Blacks open after just three minutes, with Marika Koroibete finding what looked like the first try of the match.

However, the TMO deemed Kerevi to be offside when he first picked the ball up from the ruck.

This allowed the All Blacks to control possession throughout the half as they dominated with quick ball in hand as the Wallabies failed to take advantage of their opportunities.

The first try would eventually come in the 15th minute as Beauden put a kick through for Will Jordan as the All Blacks continued the frenetic pass, eventually finished off by Jordie Barrett.

Jordie would shortly see red as he went to catch a bomb, lashing out at Marika Koroibete and collecting him in the head.

In a similar scene to game two, the deficit failed to stop their march matter as the Wallabies couldn't take advantage of prime position, with Tom Banks failing to find touch from the resulting penalty.

Koroibete would then be denied for the second time as the TMO pulled his try back from a maul due to a second movement after hitting the ground.

This allowed the All Blacks to march down the field and once again score on the siren, with centre David Havili swooping in to finish off a powerful rolling maul to defy the one-man disadvantage.

The Wallabies looked determined after the break as their expansive play paid off with Andrew Kellaway and Tate McDermott bursting through the line in the space of six minutes.

The newly returned Folau Fainga’a would barge over to give Dave Rennie’s men some momentum after the break.

However, once again the All Blacks had an answer as Akira Ioane continued his dominant series, bursting through three tacklers before finding Will Jordan for the response.

Havili would shortly add his second minutes later, snatching onto a Matt Philip intercept.

Coming onto the field for Jordie Barrett as part of the new law trials for 20-minute red cards, Damian McKenzie looked to have pulled off a miraculous re-gather after chipping a dropped ball into his hands, but the ball contacted Beauden’s boot, with the TMO ruling accidental offside.

Nic White would take advantage of the territory, linking up with club teammate Pete Same as the Wallabies hunted for a comeback.

In the end, Ioane and the All Blacks were too strong as Lienert-Brown finished off another strong break from the back-rower.

TJ Perenara would snatch another intercept to put them in prime position to find George Bridge with a cross kick to seal the victory and the series sweep.

Tom Banks would cross before the bell for the Wallabies, however, the result was sealed as the All Blacks sealed the bonus point victory.

ALL BLACKS 38

TRIES: Havili 2, J. Barrett, Jordan, Lienert-Brown, Bridge

CONS: B.Barrett

PENS: B. Barrett 2

WALLABIES 21

TRIES: Fainga'a, Samu, Banks

CONS: Lolesio, Hodge 2

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