Well, the All Blacks have recovered from a bitterly disappointing draw in Wellington to take victory against the Wallabies at Eden Park or should I say Coopers Catch Park to go 1 nil up in the 4 match Bledisloe Cup series (And what a great last weekend of New Zealand news a day after Labour have thrashed National to win the New Zealand General Election meaning that Jacinda Ardern has retained her role as Prime Minister of New Zealand since she took over from Bill English in 2017 & a day later (The same day as the All Blacks clashed with the Wallabies) that a Holden (Which is going to be defunct from next year) had won Bathurst (1st time in 2 years but fans who attended Bathurst 1000 have been given health & safety guideline warnings regarding to COVID-19 because they had the pandemic over there) with New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen (Who narrowly missed out on winning the great race in 2016 (Same year that he won his only Supercars Championship title) & last year in controversial circumstances to fellow Kiwi Scott McLaughlin (Who had been crowned champion of Supercars Australia this year for the 3rd consecutive time (His 1st Supercars Championship crown was in 2018 then successfully defended the title last year) before the season ended but I don't know where McLaughlin will be headed next year to either Indycars in America or to remain in Australia competing in the Supercars Championship) & Frenchman Alexandre 'Alex' Premat) at the helm of the Red Bull Holden Racing Team along with Aussie Garth Tander) so here's the match commentary provided from Newshub:
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the second Bledisloe Cup test match between New Zealand and Australia from 'Coopers Catch Park' (aka Eden Park) in Auckland.
Last weekend, both teams played out a pulsating 16-16 draw in Wellington, but this weekend the stakes are even higher, with the game being played at the All Blacks fortress.
The All Blacks have not lost a match at Eden Park since France in 1994 - a stretch of 43 consecutive test matches that includes the 2011 World Cup final (The turning point of the match that I remember was 'Beaver' Donald's match winning penalty to win our 1st Rugby World Cup in 24 long years) - while the Wallabies haven't won at the Auckland venue since 1986.
To protect their record, the All Blacks have made 5 changes to their starting XV, with hooker Dane Coles, lock Tupou Vaa'i, wing Caleb Clarke (Who is dubbed the new Jonah Lomu because he had a great game (Known for his runs & ability to break tackles & he bumped off a Wallaby player during the match), centre Anton Lienert-Brown and fullback Beauden Barrett all coming into the starting side.
Rieko Ioane has been ruled out of the match with a hamstring issue and has been replaced on the bench by Peter Umaga-Jensen.
The Wallabies have made both changes to their starting team, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and flanker Ned Hanigan earning their first tests in two years.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane has won the toss and his team will play right to left (east to west?) for the 1st half. Aussies will kick off.
Superb conditions in Auckland for this encounter - slightly overcast, but no sign of rain, relatively still conditions and the crowd is pouring into the stadium.
NZ national anthem being sung by Mathiu Walters from iconic Kiwi band Six60 - he seems to handle it OK, with a little flourish at the end.
The All Blacks are unleashing 'Kapa o Pango' - their 'A' haka - they mean business today.
1ST MINUTE, KICK OFF: Aussies kick off, 'Paddy' Tuipulotu is hoisted high to claim the ball, Smith clears from the 22.
Wallaby throw long and Wilson claims it off the back, All Blacks turn it over and Mo'unga clears to the Australian half.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: 'Tongan Thor' Tupou knocks the ball on and there's a scuffle in midfield - this was on the cards, after all the talk this week about physicality.
The scuffle begins with Coles copping Tupou a mouthful after his mistake (Although Nigerian born New Zealand UFC middleweight champion Israel 'Iz The Style Bender' Adesanya (Who successfully defended his title last month against Brazilian Paulo Costa to remain undefeated at 20 & 0) liked it when he was on top of the Eden Park roof).
3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: 1st scrum of the day, All Blacks feed, but the pass to Caleb Clarke is behind him and he knocks it on trying to gather.
4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: White to feed the scrum and Aussies get a penalty, after the scrum shifts sideways. Banks kicks for touch from halfway.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Australia inside the 22 and building phases, but Tuipulotu dumps the ball carrier, All Blacks steal the ball, but Aussies get it straight back.
7TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Tupou charges towards the try-line and is dragged down short by Barrett and Savea. Savea gets over the ball and wins a clearing penalty (And that's why that Australia got penalized for holding on (Not releasing ball).
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks win a lineout on their 22, Smith puts a high kick towards halfway.
9TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks turn the ball over, Savea again, with Cane and Smith handling, as they counterattack.
PENALTY: Australia win a penalty for not letting go of the ball at the ruck on halfway.
11TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Australia win a lineout on the 22 and build pressure, but a pass goes astray - Wilson spills it by knocking it on - and All Blacks gather.
13TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Smith has a defensive feed, but the Aussie scrum has been solid so far.
SCRUM: The ball is flung along the backline and Beauden Barrett breaks over halfway, before losing the ball.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Clarke gathers a kick and launches an attack, finding Coles when he's tackled.
All Blacks break through midfield, with Cane spotting a gap. They reach the 22, but the ball is lost.
16TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Vaa'i wins a lineout, Smith makes a half break from the breakdown, but passes to Tupou, who kicks.
Beauden Barrett splits the Aussie defence and the All Blacks build.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Clarke is proving handful for the Wallabies defenders, beating 4-5 tacklers, but referee Angus Gardner is playing an advantage and calls the AB's back for a penalty in midfield.
SUBSTITUTION: Lienert-Brown leaves for the blood bin and Umaga-Jensen (Who follows his footsteps of his uncles Tana Umaga (The current Blues assistant coach) & the late Jerry Collins (Who passed away in 2015 after a tragic car accident with his Canadian wife Alana Madill in France but his daughter Ayla survived the impact) makes his All Blacks debut.
19TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY GOAL: Mo'unga will take the kicks at goal this afternoon and he lines this up from just outside the 22, just to the left of the posts. He slots it to give NZ the first lead.
20TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Aussies on attack in midfield, but To'omua's pass is behind his winger and All Blacks have the ball.
SCRUM: Coles breaks up field and when Barrett kicks to the corner, Jordie chases and bundles Koroibete over the goal-line for a five-metre scrum.
23RD MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Smith
From the scrum, Goodhue runs hard and straight to the try-line, and 'Nuggy' Smith burrows & snipes away under the tackle of Hanigan.
CONVERSION & SUBSTITUTION: 'Rich' Mo'unga converts from just right of the posts. ALB is back from the blood bin, but a good cameo for Umaga-Jensen.
25TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Tuipulotu spills the ball in midfield and Australia attack the 22.
SCRUM: Banks knocks on and the All Blacks have a defensive scrum.
27TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From the scrum, the ball travels left to Clarke, who again beats the first tackler. Barrett kicks down centrefield.
30TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY WALLABIES: Try to Koroibete
Daugunu slips a couple of tackles out right, All Blacks nearly turn the ball over, but they're eventually pinged at the breakdown in centre field.
Playing under advantage, Hanigan and Hooper break towards the posts, and when the ball goes left, Koroibete uses the fend to ward off Jordie Barrett to score.
CONVERSION & SUBSTITUTION: O'Connor converts from near touch. Moody is out cold, knocked out in a tackle, and Hodgman (Who is not big but is built like a back rower because I told Pops about it today) is about to make his debut at prop, All Black No.1190.
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From the kickoff, To'omua clears from the Aussie 22 and then goes down - looks like he's pulled something in that kick.
PENALTY: Savea bursts from the maul, down the right sideline and NZ are hot on attack, but spill a pass in midfield. Gardner goes back for the penalty on Hanigan.
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Frizell wins a lineout just outside the Aussie 22 and All Blacks have won a penalty in the maul.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: To'omua is leaving, replaced by the young 20 year old Wallaby, Jordan Petaia. Mo'unga kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout.
35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Coles' throw goes over the lineout, but Cane controls and All Blacks drive towards the posts.
Hanigan has wrapped up the ball though and Banks clears.
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Aussies win a lineout, White kicks high and Clarke can't take the ball cleanly. Australia on attack.
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Paisami breaks up the right, tackled by Clarke, but the ball goes left, a pass goes loose and All Blacks will have a chance to clear from a scrum.
39TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: From the scrum, NZ win a penalty and clear to their own 10.
40TH MINUTE: Young All Black Vaa'i wins a lineout, but the Aussies hack the loose ball upfield. Mo'unga cleans it up and Aaron Smith able to find touch as the halftime hooter sounds.
HALF TIME
41ST MINUTE, SUBSTITUTION: Ala'alatoa replaces Tupou at prop for Australia.
Australia recover the kickoff and try to break out of their 22, White kicks to the 10.
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From the lineout, Clarke charges into the backline and makes good ground. Coles charges through a hole and Clarke again is brought down before the tryline.
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Jordie Barrett
CONVERSION MISS: When the forwards recycle the ball, it comes right, where Goodhue nails the final pass for Jordie Barrett to score a 5 pointer in the corner. Mo'unga's conversion hits the right upright and bounces away.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks control the kickoff, but Hooper wins a penalty at the breakdown (And New Zealand were penalized for not releasing (Holding on was the call made by Australian referee Angus Gardner). Banks kicks to the corner.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Long throw from the Aussies, but Frizell steals the lineout and Mo'unga kicks long with the sun behind him.
46TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Savea
O'Connor kicks high into the All Blacks half and Clarke fields the ball. He beats most of the Wallabies defence, some of them twice, before the ball goes left, where Savea stumbles over to score.
CONVERSION MISS: Credit Clarke for that try - Mo'unga's conversion is left wide right.
50TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Koroibete has the ball at the end of the back line and lowers his shoulder at Mo'unga on the goal-line.
PENALTY: Mo'unga and ALB holds him up though, and he's bundled into touch in goal. Gardner brings them back for a penalty for a no clear release (Tackler not releasing) by Savea
52ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TMO REFERRAL: Australia win an attacking lineout and their forward rumble to the goal-line. Gardner calls on field try, but wants to have a look how the ball was grounded.
PENALTY & SUBSTITUTION: Replays show Paenga-Amosa used a double movement to cross the line, so no try, penalty to the All Blacks and BPA is subbed off (That was his last act, penalized for both movements whilst attempting to score a 5 pointer), replaced by Uelese.
SUBSTITUTION: Meanwhile, Laulala and Taylor replace Tuungafasi and Coles. Scott Barrett replaces Vaa'i.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks forwards rumble to halfway, Smith kicks high, but Daugunu leaps high to catch.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Try to Cane
CONVERSION: All Blacks surge into the 22, Mo'unga holds up a pass to put Tuipulotu into space and he basketball-passes to Cane, who heads for the posts. Mo'unga converts.
56TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Perenara (Who is heading to Japan after being signed by a Japanese club) is on for Smith. Aussies trying to break out of their half and Koroibete heads infield to the 22.
57TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: With the Aussies threatening, Perenara monsters a forward at the breakdown, stripping the ball and winning a penalty for a player who was never onside.
All Blacks clear to the 10.
58TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Perenara bursts down the left sideline and puts a little grubber ahead, but Taylor can't gather with the line open.
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Gordon replaces White at halfback for Australia.
61ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks are penalized for a scrum collapse (Collapsing the scrum) and Australia clear from their 10.
SUBSTITUTION: ALB leaves for good, replaced by Umaga-Jensen.
62ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Aussies knock on, ALB gathers, but Gardner calls them back for the original mistake.
ALB is still on, so Goodhue has gone.
64TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Jordie Barrett chips infield from the right win and Australia try to counterattack.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Finally Sio makes halfway and Aussie forwards keep the ball in hand, until Gordon kicks for touch inside the 22. Sotutu replaces Frizell and immediately wins his first lineout.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga clears from behind his own line to outside the 22. Aussies build an attack, but Mo'unga eventually steals the ball, after some loose passing.
67TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Barrett kicks high, O'Connor takes it near the touchline and is tackled over the line.
SUBSTITUTION: McKenzie replaces Clarke, who get a standing ovation as he leaves (Caleb's proud father Eroni would have been proud of his son making an impact).
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): ALB charges to halfway and the forwards carry on the attack.
69TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Good hands along the line, Sotutu is strong and McKenzie is taken in a big tackle, but Australia win a clearing penalty.
SUBSTITUTION: Umaga-Jensen leaves for what looks like an HIA (Head injury assessment), Goodhue comes back on.
70TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Untidy play from the Aussies, but Gardner rules an All Blacks knock-on in the tackle.
72ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Alaalatoa bursts over halfway, but Perenara strips Uelese of the ball in a tackle. NZ scrum, Umaga-Jensen has failed his HIA.
73RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks monster the scrum and win a penalty on halfway. Barrett kicks to the corner.
75TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Petaia makes a break down the left, pushing off Mo'unga, but he's tackled by Jordie Barrett and passes into touch.
76TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From a scrum, Aussies try to launch and attack, but Koroibete's hands let him down in midfield.
77TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks lose the ball and Australia again try to break out - the game is getting untidy.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Eventually, Australia kick for touch and find it on the 10.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Tuipulotu wins a lineout and Cane finds Goodhue running a hard line, but Gardner rules the pass forward.
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks penalized at the scrum, Banks kicks for touch and one last lineout between the NZ 10 and 22.
PENALTY: Aussies win the lineout, but lose the ball. But Gardner brings them back for a penalty against Tuipulotu for a side entry (Joining ruck or maul incorrectly).
82ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Banks finds the corner again, but the Aussies spill the ball and NZ counterattack.
SCRUM: Jordie Barrett can't take a pass near halfway, so Australia come charging back - they eventually throw a forward pass that ends the match.
The All Blacks have defended their dominance of Eden 'Coopers Catch' Park and take a one-match advantage in the Bledisloe Cup series.
ALL BLACKS 27 WALLABIES 7
NEW ZEALAND: Smith, Savea, Cane & J Barrett tries; Mo'unga both conversions & a penalty
AUSTRALIA: Koroibete try, O'Connor conversion
So that is my 367th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 27th of this year.
