New Zealand overcome Australia in Bledisloe Cup for record 18th straight test triumph
Julian Savea scores two tries as Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, TJ Perenara and Dane Coles also cross to seal 37-10 victory in Auckland
World champions New Zealand were challenged for 50 minutes but still ran in six tries to beat Australia 37-10 in Auckland on Saturday to become the first top-tier nation to win 18 consecutive test matches.
Less than a year after becoming the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups and with a much-changed line-up, Steve Hansen’s side bolstered their claim to being the greatest ever rugby team.
Julian Savea scored two tries as Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, TJ Perenara and Dane Coles also crossed to help the current All Blacks better the record held by the 2013-2014 and 1965-1969 vintages, as well as the 1997-1998 Springboks.
New Zealand’s last defeat was at the hands of the Wallabies in Sydney last year, but Australia breaking their 30-year Eden Park hoodoo was always going to be a tall order, even if a try from Rory Arnold was scant consolation for a spirited display.
The All Blacks were already assured of retaining the Bledisloe Cup after emphatic victories over Australia in Sydney and Wellington in August and extended their winning streak on home soil to 45 tests.
They took only six minutes to score their first try as fullback Ben Smith slipping his marker, centre Reece Hodge, and sending winger Dagg scampering to the line.
