A combative first half from the Wallabies offered glimpses of hope as the All Blacks powered away to a 33-13 win in Wellington, NZ, on Saturday.
The Bledisloe Cup was already lost to Australia after the All Blacks’ 31-28 win in Sydney the weekend before.
The Wallabies started fast with a converted try to loose forward Fraser McReight before the All Blacks capitalised on Wallabies loose ball to send winger Sevu Reece over on the wing for a converted try: 7-5 to Australia.
Noah Lolesio’s penalty goal from the kick-off extended Australia’s lead to 10-7 only for a solo effort by fullback Will Jordan to give the All Blacks a 12-10 lead just after the first quarter.
The Australians pressed the All Blacks with a physical approach and resulted in Lolesio adding another penalty to make it 13-10 on the scoreboard.
However, the All Blacks struck before the break when Caleb Clarke ran straight and hard close to the Wallabies tryline to set up the 19-13 half-time lead.
All the points-scoring in the second half came from NZ as they celebrated franker Sam Cane’s 100th Test match.
Perth-raised All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams burrowed over the 55th minute and Clarke’s second extended the lead 10 minutes later with a powerful burst set up by replacement Damian McKenzie.
The Wallabies kept fighting for a response but couldn’t find a way through the Kiwis’ defence as they sent Cane off in style.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was left to rue the team’s lack of possession in the second half with the Wallabies unable to score any points.
The result sees the Wallabies finish last on the Rugby Championship table after the Springboks won the title with a 48-7 win over Argentina, who had a player red-carded, in South Africa. New Zealand finished second with the Pumas third on the table.
Meanwhile, the Wallaroos recorded a strong 37-5 win over hosts Wales in their women’s XV2 competition clash over the weekend.
