All Blacks beat Wallabies 29-9 to retain the Bledisloe Cup
Israel Dagg's two tries set New Zealand on their way to victory
©Press Association
New Zealand 29-9 Australia, Westpac Stadium
Scorecard
The All Blacks ran four tries against the Wallabies at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday to secure a 29-9 victory and retain the Bledisloe Cup.
Israel Dagg scored a double whereas fellow wing Julian Savea and flanker Sam Cane scored a try each for the home side whereas the visitors drew a blank in tries tally.
Dagg opened the account for the All Blacks in the seventh minute as he touched down for a try after Aaron Smith burst through the Wallabies midfield. Fly-half Beauden Barrett added the extras with a conversion as the home team took advantage early into the first half.
New Zealand was penalized in the 11th minute as Dagg failed to roll away after tacking Israel Folau. Wallabies centre Bernard Foley successfully scored the penalty to get the ball rolling for the visitors.
However, the All Blacks restored their seven points lead as Barrett slotted a penalty in the 13th minute after Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu got penalized for coming in from the side in the ruck.
All Blacks conceded another penalty for not rolling away in 20th minute as Foley split the posts once again 10m in from the left touchline.
Dagg touched down for his second try of the game in the 21st minute after a fantastic break in the centrefield from Barrett as he fed the ball to the right-wing to set up the try. Unfortunately, Barrett missed the conversion attempt as the All Blacks took a nine-point lead half-way through the first half.
Reece Hodge kicked his first points for the Wallabies, with a penalty goal from within his own half in the 34th minute after Owen Franks was penalized for coming in at the side.
Wallabies lock Adam Coleman was sin-binned in the 36th minute for a late shoulder charge on the All Blacks fullback Ben Smith, however, the hosts failed to make any further addition to their points tally in the remainder of four minutes as they took a modest six points lead by the half-time whistle.
Six minutes into the second-half, Savea outstripped the cover defence to score in the left corner after quick hands in midfield and a long pass from Barrett to Ben Smith set up the third try for the hosts. Barrett's conversion added two more points to the All Blacks tally.
In 61st minute, scrum-half Smith delivered a short ball from a ruck into the chest of a charging All Blacks flanker Sam Cane who out-muscled Folau on the try-line. Barrett's successful conversion stretched the lead for the hosts to 20 points.
The Wallabies drew a blank in the entire second-half as the All Blacks secured another bonus point victory in the Rugby Championship, in process securing the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year.
