‘One of the most incredible test matches’

3:42 pm, October 11, 2020

Understandably, social media was on fire after Test rugby made an exciting comeback in Wellington. With more than 30,000 fans in attendance for the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series, the All Blacks escaped with a draw after Jordie Barrett nailed a penalty in the 79th minute to save the Wallabies face from Dave Rennie.

Excellent competition was filled with incidents, providing social media with no shortage of talking points, including Rieko Ioane’s costly failure to ground the ball after a riveting attack by the All Blacks, and a Reece Hodge penalty of 50. meters after the full time it crashed into the vertical.

Here’s the best reaction from social media to the game, which has raised expectations for next week’s second round at Eden Park.

Epic Trial Match! What a finale!
Thought @wallabies I had them after taking Hodgey’s kick on the post and generating pressure like that

Congratulations to Hoops on 100 tests!

– David Pocock (@pocockdavid) October 11, 2020

What game @All the black people ??????

– Malakai Fekitoa (@MalakaiFekitoa) October 11, 2020

One of the most incredible test matches. #NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/KdhyiQdt39

– Jim Hamilton (@ jimhamilton4) October 11, 2020

Congratulations to Hoops for becoming the youngest Wallaby to reach 100 test caps today. Legend on and off the field? Also a very impressive shuffler?

All the best @wallabies today ?? pic.twitter.com/BthwxMRJjR

– Matt Giteau ?? (@giteau_rugby) October 10, 2020

What proof of match? ???? @allblacksrugby All day

– Jerome Kaino (@jeromekaino) October 11, 2020

What game! Exciting game between both sides behind the siren. Enjoying my first Bledisloe as a spectator! #NZLvsAUS#BledisloeCup

– Tatafu Polota-Nau (@ tatafu267) October 11, 2020

the @All the black people fans booing the @wallabies kickers just aren’t ruggers and why didn’t James O’Connor go for a drop goal to win it in death after they got the ball back 5 meters, or Richie Mo’unga once NZ came up the other end at 88th minute?! Some finish a game!

– Andy Goode (@ AndyGoode10) October 11, 2020

Would the big boy have stepped in ????

– Ian madigan (@Ian_madigan) October 11, 2020

That was one of the best rugby games in a long time! Big change! Congratulations to Michael Hooper on his 100th @wallabies match test! Next week. #NZLvAUS #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/5HtGk7A5UX

– Pierre du Plessis (@PetrusduPlessis) October 11, 2020

The first thing Ian Foster should do in the All Black locker room is walk up to Reiko Ioane in the locker room and say, “You’re not playing next week, you’ve missed a possible seven easy points. This is a game of test! It’s not a show! ” pony parade!

– Keith Quinn (@ KeithQuinn88) October 11, 2020

All blacks lost because Reiko Ioane was showing off.

– ???????. (@leextuai) October 11, 2020

Rieko Ioane will work hard for a long time to erase that from memory….

– Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZ) October 11, 2020

That test match this morning has shown that both the All Blacks and Australia are still terrified of drop kicks. Shocking decision making. Wallabies stole a penalty right in front of the posts just after the kick also hit the post. As cheeky as they come. #NZLvAUS

– Owen Webb O Rourke (@OwenWebbORourke) October 11, 2020

Matt Philip was absolutely outstanding today for the Wallabies, I thought he was comfortably man of the match, epic performance on the loose work without a break #NZvAUS #BledisloeCup #MattPhilip #Wallabies

– Graeme Peacock (@ graemepeacock05) October 11, 2020

Feeling for Reece Hodge, who came so close to being part of rugby folklore. Feeling for AR Angus Gardner. Feeling for Reiko Ioane who killed an attempt. Feeling for who should have made a drop goal attempt after the siren. It’s sport … anything can happen! Bring next Sunday.

– Greg Clark (@greg_clarkie) October 11, 2020