Auckland (AFP)

Malmerged during the Rugby Championship and corrected in Perth 47-26 last week by the Wallabies, New Zealand has recovered health by ruthlessly winning 36-0 Saturday against Australia in Auckland, retaining the Bledisloe Cup and its first place worldwide.

At one month of the 2019 World Cup in Japan (September 20 - November 2), the All Blacks showed a much better face than in Australia, scoring 4 tries, including two on recovery balls in the first period.

And most of all, they straightened their image as the World Cup approached, chilling the long-toothed nations of the North (Wales, England, Ireland), who were eyeing their first place in the World Rugby World Rankings.

Richie Mo'unga, installed as an opener by New Zealand coach Steve Hansen - who had as usual shifted his star Beauden Barrett in the back - gave his coach the right to write the first one. try the Blacks on a ball lost by the Australians in his forty meters he took to the goal (31).

New Zealand built their success in a very strong first period, winning 17-0, including a tight defense and a second try Aaron Smith (32), after a decisive recovery by Beauden Barrett.

The back is also at the origin of the third test of the Blacks, with an intelligent opening to the foot for the test of his winger Sevu Reece (67th). The fourth try was scored in the corner, late in the game, by the other winger George Bridge (77th).

Unruly Australia a week earlier, where the second row Scott Barrett had been punished with a red card by the French referee Jerome Garcès for a charge in the face, the All Blacks have largely corrected their copy, despite the yellow card hooker Dane Coles (36th).

Australia, on the other hand, was much more timid than in Perth offensively: it spoiled its rare test chances and multiplied the hand-offs in the rain, to end the game with no points scored (for the 10th time in its history against the Blacks).

Winner of the last 16 editions, New Zealand remains master of this Bledisloe Cup reduced to two matches because of the World Cup (September 20 - November 2 in Japan), because in case of a victory everywhere, it is the defending champion who retains his title (as was already the case in 2015 and 2007, years of World Cups).

© 2019 AFP