The Bledisloe Cup remained elusive for the Wallabies for the 23rd consecutive year as they faced a formidable All Blacks side in Perth on Saturday night. Despite the significance of the occasion, marking James Slipper’s final Test after a 15-year career spanning 151 games, Australia fell short with a 28-14 defeat. This result extended their losing streak against New Zealand to 11 Tests since 2020, leaving fans yearning for a return to global rugby prominence.
Throughout much of the match, the Wallabies appeared poised to end their 1,792-day drought against the All Blacks. They showcased strategic ingenuity, precision in kicking, and executed long phases of blistering attack. However, a combination of unfortunate luck, discipline lapses, and errors ultimately thwarted their efforts.
Wallabies’ Early Promise and Tactical Missteps
In the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies have often started poorly only to finish strong. However, Saturday night saw a reversal of this trend as they began with fast hands and daring play that unsettled the All Blacks. Tane Edmed’s early penalty gave Australia a brief lead, but a controversial decision by English referee Matthew Carley, who reversed a penalty after a turnover celebration by Will Skelton, set the tone for the night.
Australia’s lead was short-lived as Nick Frost fumbled the kick-off, allowing Leroy Carter to score from the ensuing maul. Despite an Edmed penalty narrowing the gap to 7-6, further attempts to regain control were thwarted by referee decisions, including a yellow card for Tom Hooper and disallowed try for Allan Alaalatoa.
Setbacks and Resilience Amidst Adversity
The Wallabies faced additional challenges when Skelton was sidelined due to a failed Head Injury Assessment (HIA). Nevertheless, they continued to press forward, with Filipo Daugunu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii leading the charge both in attack and defense. Despite experimenting with a seventh halves combination in Edmed and Jake Gordon, Australia’s attack remained cohesive, though simple errors in wet conditions hindered their progress.
Bad luck struck again when Jordie Barrett’s head-butted ball led to a try for Quinn Tupaea, followed by another Tupaea try after a quick tap and fend. Damian McKenzie’s missed kicks kept the scoreline from widening further, yet the Wallabies found themselves trailing 17-9 at halftime.
Rugby Union’s Fight for Relevance in Western Australia
This Test held broader significance for rugby union, particularly in Western Australia where the sport competes with established AFL teams and the emerging Perth Bears in the NRL. The 60,000-strong crowd at Optus Stadium witnessed a spirited performance from the Wallabies, who have historically found success in Perth, including a memorable 47-26 victory over the All Blacks in 2019.
As rain intensified in the second half, coach Joe Schmidt introduced fresh players like Taniela Tupou and Rob Valetini to bolster the attack. Despite dominating possession and overcoming another yellow card to Len Ikitau, the Wallabies’ efforts fizzled out without significant breakthroughs.
Looking Ahead: Lessons and Future Challenges
Despite the loss, the Wallabies demonstrated resilience, having staged comebacks against teams like England, Fiji, and South Africa earlier this year. A late try by Ikitau brought the score to 20-14, rekindling hopes of a comeback, but McKenzie’s decisive kicks and an 80th-minute try sealed the series for New Zealand.
Max Jorgensen emphasized the need for improved discipline on Australia’s upcoming five-Test overseas tour, starting on October 25 in Japan. “A lot of silly errors that we need to get out of our game. That’s what Test footy is, it’s the best of the best, so you can’t be making those mistakes. If you want to be the best team in the world you’ve got to be at your best at every aspect of the game,” he stated.
The Wallabies’ journey continues as they aim to rectify their shortcomings and re-establish themselves as a global rugby powerhouse. With critical lessons learned from their latest Bledisloe Cup encounter, they prepare to face new challenges on the international stage.
