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Michael Cheika has given his immediate reaction to the heavy loss suffered by the Wallabies at the hands of New Zealand in the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland.
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In wet conditions at Eden Park, the All Blacks ran in five unanswered tries to retain the silverware for another year in front of a capacity home crowd.
Cheika rued the inconsistency of his charges across the park in an evening to forget for the men in gold.
In a tight opening quarter, the Wallabies missed two opportunities for points when Christian Lealiifano struck the upright with his first shot at penalty goal and narrowly missed on another attempt, before Richie Mo’unga crossed from broken play to add a try to his earlier penalty strike to make it 10-0 to the home side after 30 minutes.
The home team added another try only three minutes later when Aaron Smith crossed after George Bridge split the Wallabies line, and the lead would stay at 17-0 at the break.
The second half didn’t start well for the trailing Wallabies, with Sonny Bill Williams muscling over in the 46th minute to open up a 24-0 lead. Still, the men in gold stayed in the scrap only to be repeatedly denied by the staunch All Blacks defence.
A freakish effort from New Zealand winger Sevu Reece in the 67th minute put the result beyond doubt before Bridge dotted down himself to complete the rout.
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SCORERS
Qantas Wallabies 0 New Zealand 36 (Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Sevu Reece, George Bridge tries; Richie Mo’unga 3, Beauden Barrett cons; Richie Mo’unga pen)
CARDS
Dane Coles – New Zealand, 37 mins (Yellow)
TEAMS
Qantas Wallabies
1. Scott Sio 2. Tolu Latu 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Izack Rodda 5. Adam Coleman 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 7. Michael Hooper (c) 8. Isi Naisarani 9. Nic White 10. Christian Lealiifano 11. Marika Koroibete 12. Samu Kerevi (vc) 13. James O’Connor 14. Reece Hodge 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga’a 17. James Slipper 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Rob Simmons 20. Liam Coleman 21. Will Genia 22. Matt To’omua 23. Adam Ashley-Cooper
New Zealand
1. Joe Moody 2. Dane Coles 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Patrick Tuipolutu 5. Sam Whitelock 6. Ardie Savea 7. Sam Cane 8. Kieran Read (c) 9. Aaron Smith 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. George Bridge 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Anton Lienert-Brown 14. Sevu Reece 15. Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16. Codie Taylor 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18. Angus Ta’avao 19. Jackson Hemopo 20. Matt Todd 21. TJ Perenara 22. Ngani Laumape 23. Jordie Barrett
WALLABIES SUBSTITUTIONS
44 mins- Tupou for Alaalatoa, 47 mins- Slipper for Sio, 47 mins- To’omua for Lealiifano, 51 mins- Genia for White, 56 mins- Fainga’a for Latu, 56 mins- Simmons for Coleman, 60 mins- Wright for Salakaia-Loto, 69 mins- Ashley-Cooper for O’Connor
