Auckland (AFP)

New Zealand raised the tone to sweep Australia (27-7), Sunday in Auckland during the 2nd test match of the Bledisloe Cup, thus erasing the criticism caused by the draw conceded a week earlier against the same Wallabies (16-16).

The All Blacks dampened the optimism on the Australian side by the encouraging result of the previous week in Wellington, for the first test of new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, in favor of a one-sided second period.

After a balanced first half (10-7 at the break), the New Zealanders scored three tries in 13 minutes and deployed an iron defense under the eyes of a packed Eden Park (more than 45,000 spectators).

After having countered a second epidemic wave of coronavirus, the New Zealand archipelago has indeed lifted its health restrictions and can afford to welcome the public, without a mask.

To keep the Bledisloe Cup, which they have held since 2003, the New Zealanders just have to win one of the two matches that will oppose the two teams in the Rugby Championship which is due to start on October 31 in Australia and during which they will also face Argentina.

"It was tough but how happy we are!" Said New Zealand captain Sam Cane.

"There was a lot of pressure this week for a partly reshaped squad and I'm very proud of how we stuck to our strategy."

"They were better than us this week, they raised the level and dominated us," responded his Australian counterpart Michael Hooper.

"We are in the construction phase. Our confidence was a bit damaged today, but we will recover."

- Invincibles in Auckland -

The New Zealand selection thus maintains its supremacy in its garden of Eden Park, where it is undefeated in 44 test-matches since 1994 and a defeat against the XV of France (23-20), marked by the famous "test of end of the world "by Jean-Luc Sadourny.

As for the Wallabies, they haven't won in Auckland since 1986 and in New Zealand since 2001.

After a first test match where the All Blacks had been roughed up in the rucks, Ian Forster had decided to strengthen his pack, notably by establishing Dan Coles.

The hooker responded and a first altercation with the Australian pillar Taniela Tupou triggered a scuffle between the 30 players.

The Australians tied for a period while winger Marike Koroibete responded to Smith's first try on the New Zealand side.

But back from the locker room, the All Blacks, carried by a twirling Caleb Clarke for his second selection, raised the tone and in 13 minutes, Jordie Barrett, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane crossed the line three times to fold the meeting.

For his return after a last-minute withdrawal from Wellington, Beauden Barrett, the best player in the world of 2016 and 2017, also hurt the Australian defense.

The triple world champions are favorites of the Rugby Championship which starts in two weeks and from which the South African world champions will be absent.

The Springboks, weaned from matches since their victory in Japan in 2019, withdrew from participating on Friday due to travel restrictions imposed by governments and to protect the health of their players.

© 2020 AFP