All Blacks power past Wallabies 43-21 in Sydney finale
New Zealand beat Australia 43-21 in Sydney to close the Wallabies' home season with a heavy defeat.
The second Bledisloe Cup Test was Australia's final home Test of the year, and the visitors pulled clear to follow up their series-clinching win a week earlier, The Guardian.
The Bledisloe Cup is the annual trophy contested by the two trans-Tasman rivals in rugby union. New Zealand had already secured it with a 50-19 victory on 10 October 2026, Reuters. That retention extended their hold to a 24th straight year, Reuters.
The first Test had been tight at the break. The All Blacks led only 17-14 at half-time before scoring five tries after the restart. Australia went into that game without a win at Eden Park since 1986.
The gap told again in Sydney. New Zealand arrived disrupted. Four All Blacks were ruled out of the second Test, and Jordie Barrett then withdrew in a late change with calf tightness. Centre Quinn Tupaea lasted only a minute before leaving the field after hitting his head on the turf.
New Zealand still found sharp edges out wide. Winger Josh Moorby claimed one try after shaping to pass, a dummy that froze defenders Max Jorgensen and Ryan Lonergan and opened the line. A try, worth five points for touching the ball down over the tryline, gave the All Blacks breathing room. Forward Peter Lakai also crossed for a try in Sydney.
Australia shuffled a key role. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii started at No. 13, outside centre in the midfield, after playing his previous two Tests on the wing. The Wallabies kept pushing. They scored two tries in the second half, but could not close a wide margin.
For fans new to this fixture, the scorelines tell a simple story. Two Tests, two clear New Zealand wins. Australia finished its home campaign with fight in patches, yet well short on the scoreboard.
