New Zealand have done all they can to win a third successive Rugby Championship title courtesy of a bonus-point 40-14 victory over Australia at Eden Park today.
Nine days on from one of the most contentious editions of this long trans-Tasman rivalry, which saw the All Blacks clinch the Bledisloe Cup for the 20th successive year, there was no such drama this time around as Ian Foster's side ran in five tries for another comfortable victory at their fortress in Auckland, where they remain unbeaten since 1994 and have now won 23 successive matches against Australia dating back to 1986.
The result is about the best New Zealand could have hoped for to pile the pressure on title rivals South Africa, although they still face an anxious wait to discover whether they will be crowned champions, with the Springboks playing Argentina this afternoon.
The All Blacks' bonus point and margin of victory means that South Africa must also claim a bonus-point win in Durban later, with only victory by at least 39 points over a much-improved Argentina side being enough to dethrone New Zealand.
Having seen last week's meeting end via a hugely controversial refereeing call, Australia found themselves on the wrong end of disciplinary matters again just two minutes into this match, although this time they could have few complaints.
Jed Holloway was arguably fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a dangerous clearout, but the visitors coped well with their numerical disadvantage to hold New Zealand at bay.
Indeed, the first points did not arrive until the 21st minute when Richie Mo'unga knocked over a simple penalty, and that opened the floodgates for the hosts as Will Jordan raced through for the first try moments later.
Jordan gets an impressive opening try for New Zealand 🤩 pic.twitter.com/SAo7AbxAru
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) September 24, 2022
A penalty try then followed as Australian indiscipline came back to bite them again, with David Porecki penalised for collapsing the maul and becoming the fifth Wallaby to be sent to the bin in their two games against New Zealand and their ninth yellow card of the Rugby Championship.
Australia again prevented their hosts from adding to their advantage during their time with 14, but New Zealand wasted no time at the start of the second half as Sam Whitelock somehow grounded the ball for just his seventh try in 140 international appearances.
Codie Taylor then burrowed over from a maul to make it 32-0 before Australia finally got on the board in the 59th minute when Folau Fainga'a finished after an All Black clearance had been partially charged down.
Any hope of launching a comeback even greater than the one they managed in Melbourne last week was quickly quashed, though, as two cheap knock-ons inside their own 22 in quick succession eliminated any momentum, the second ultimately leading to Samisoni Taukei'aho going over for New Zealand's fifth try.
A late penalty from Mo'unga saw the All Blacks reach the 40-point mark to make South Africa's task later that bit tougher, although Australia had the final say as Jordan Petaia went over with the final action of the match - a score which not only reduced the arrears at Eden Park, but also means that South Africa now need one less converted try than they otherwise would have in Durban.
It is still a tall order for the world champions given that Argentina have already beaten Australia at home and New Zealand away in this year's Rugby Championship, although the All Blacks' own 50-point win over Los Pumas earlier this month will give the Boks belief.
Should South Africa beat Argentina by a 40-point margin then they will finish level with the All Blacks on 19 points, but pip New Zealand to the title by virtue of a superior points difference.
If South Africa win by 39 points then the points and points difference would both be level, meaning that the tiebreaker would go down to points difference in matches between the two sides - a decider the Springboks would win by four.
However, any win by 38 points or fewer - or of course failure to win the game at all - would see New Zealand retain the crown despite a largely disappointing campaign.
Barney Corkhill
