New Zealand off to winning start in Rugby Championship 2017

Australia 34-54 New Zealand, ANZ Stadium
Scorecard

Reiko Ioane and Ryan Crotty scored double as New Zealand ran an eight try riot to beat Australia by 34-54 in the opening game of the Rugby Championship at ANZ Stadium.

Fly-half Bernard Foley kicked the proceedings for Australia with a fourth minute penalty. Five minutes later, Highlanders flanker Liam Squire crossed over and was backed by a conversion from Beauden Barrett.

Foley kicked another penalty to bring down the gap to one point but what followed after that was a complete dominance from the All Blacks. Ioane and Crotty strolled past the post twice in the next 25 minutes along with another try from comeback man Sonny Bill Williams as the visitors completed the first half with a 6-40 lead.

Steve Hansen's men carry forwarded the momentum into the second with Damian McKenzie and Ben Smith also contributing with tries. Barrett also had seven conversions to his name as the World Champions had a 48 point lead at the end of the 50th minute.

Even though debutant Curtis Rona, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau led Australia's fightback with a try each between 51st and 68th minute, they succumbed to a 20 point defeat in the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup contest.