Bledisloe Cup

Beaten 27-7 by New Zealand in the second Test of the series at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday, the Wallabies have to win Tests in Sydney and Brisbane to claim the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2003.

Prop James Slipper, one of the team’s most experienced players in the squad said the post-match mood was surprisingly upbeat.

“The good thing is that we get to play them in two weeks’ time and I guarantee it will be a better outcome,” Slipper said.

“There’s a lot of confidence in the group and we’re well aware this Bledisloe is still alive.

The Wallabies came crashing back to earth after last week’s thrilling 16-16 draw in Wellington as the All Blacks piled on four tries to one in a 27-7 rebound rout in Auckland on Sunday.

In chalking up their 20th straight trans-Tasman victory at Eden Park since 1986, no All Black was more destructive in punishing the Wallabies for their defensive deficiencies than rookie winger Caleb Clarke.

The New Zealanders opened out an early 10-0 lead, a Richie Mo'ounga penalty boosted by halfback Aason Smith's converted try after 22 minutes.

But the Australians hit back through winger Marika Koroibete as the half-hour mark approached, and the All Blacks could only take a narrow 10-7 lead into the break.

It took only two minutes after the restart for fullback Jordie Barrett to add to the New Zealand tally, after the All Blacks showed patience and timing before finding space to score out wide.

The All Blacks camp tweeted on Thursday night that the injury had happened during “field training” on Wednesday, though details were scant.

“George Bridge will be out of rugby for up to six months after suffering a chest injury in field training yesterday. He’ll be assessed over the next 48 hours to determine the next course of action,” the tweet said.

It is understood Bridge injured a pectoral muscle.

Bridge played for all of the first test in Wellington on Sunday, the left wing playing a pivotal role in halfback Aaron Smith’s try.

Prop Allan Alaalatoa says one of the great things that Rennie has brought forward is that the Fijians have shared a song for the team to learn and the Tongans have also shared a song as well and they are just waiting for the Samoan one now.

The Wallabies face the All Blacks at 3pm Sunday in their second Bledisloe Cup match.

Forwards coach John Plumtree was unhappy with the officiating, particularly around the ruck, during the 16-all stalemate in Wellington and he wants it fixed for this weekend's second match at Eden Park.

The Wallabies dominated possession despite giving away more penalties and won the physical battle with the New Zealand forward pack.

Plumtree believes a lot of the Wallabies off the ball play was illegal and he's disappointed the infringements weren't picked up, however he concedes the All Blacks needed to adjust to the way the game was being called.

White was a stand-out for the for the Wallabies in their 16-16 draw last weekend, repeatedly troubling New Zealand’s defence with his sniping runs from the ruck.

His clever box kicking in the swirling Wellington wind also tested the home side.

But the 30-year-old doesn’t expect to be given an inch to move at in Auckland’s Eden Park, where the Australians will attempt to snap a losing streak that dates back to 1986.

Dave Rennie’s Wallabies came within a coat of paint of stealing the first test of the year as Reece Hodge hit the woodwork from 53 metes out. The visitors tested the All Blacks throughout, controlling much of the ball and territory, while forcing Foster’s men to make 100 more tackles.

The All Blacks took an 8-3 lead into halftime but it should have been at least five more after Ioane dropped the ball over the line while attempting to place it with one hand.

Foster, in his first test match in charge, was philosophical about the blunder.

The 25-year-old scored a crucial try in the 16-all draw to reaffirm Wallabies coach Dave Rennie’s faith in handing him a debut in the cauldron of trans-Tasman rugby.

Carrying on his superb Super Rugby AU form, Daugunu looked right at home at Sky Sports Stadium, keeping pace with fellow Fijian flyer Marika Koroibete, who was Australia’s other tryscorer.

Daugunu finished with a 108 metres from 11 runs, which was 44 more metres than any other player on the field.

His four tackles busts was also an equal game-high.

The Wallabies, under new coach New Zealander Dave Rennie, were rank outsiders to upset the hosts but that's almost what they did, as new All Black coach Ian Foster's reign began with a fizzle rather than a roar.

A thrilling game of to and fro ending in a 16-all draw after nearly nine minutes of injury time, in which neither side could break the stalemate.

However, it could have been very different for the All Blacks, had centre Rieko Ioane not blown a certain try.