Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand rescues late draw with Australia in first round since March

Jordie Barrett’s penalty in the 79th minute saved a 16-16 draw for New Zealand against Australia in the first international Test Match since March.

The game was the first international Test Match since the Covid-19 restrictions, and the first for new All Blacks coach Ian Foster and his Wallabies counterpart Dave Rennie.

The second of the four Bledisloe Cup matches is Sunday October 18 (02:00 BST).

The game was played in front of 31,000 unmasked spectators, near capacity in Wellington, and New Zealand largely contained the virus.

Reece Hodge, replacement for the Wallabies, had a chance to win the game in the second of nine minutes of overtime, but his 50-meter penalty hit the post.

Play continued for seven more minutes of continuous play as both sides sought victory before Australia’s midfielder James O’Connor decided to end the competition with a touch kick.

O’Connor had pushed the visitors three points ahead with a penalty in the 74th minute.

It was a tale of two halves, as the All Backs should have been 15-3 up in the first half, but Rieko Ioane was unable to add to Barrett’s first attempt when he dropped the ball while trying to ground it over the Aussie line.

Aaron Smith went over to extend the hosts’ lead four minutes after the restart, before attempts by Marika Koroibete and Filipo Daugunu brought the Wallabies back into the game.

Teams

New Zealand: McKenzie; J. Barrett, John, Goodhue, Bridge; Mo’unga, Smith; Moody, Taylor, Tu’ungafasi, Tuipulotu, Whitelock, Frizzel, Cane, Savea.

Replacements: Coles, Tuinukuafe, Lomax, Vaa’i, Sotutu, Perenara, Liernert-Brown, Clarke.

Australia: Banks; Daugunu, Paisami, Toomua, Koroibete; O’Connor, White; Zapatilla, Fainga’a, Tupou, Salakaia-Loto, Philip, Wilson, Hooper, Samu.

Replacements: Wales, Sio, Alaalatoa, Simmons, Valetini, Gordon, Lolesio, Hodge.

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)