New Zealand crush Australia in Rugby Championship opener
Reigning champions open with a bonus-point win as Steve Hansen’s side score eight tries in first 48 minutes
Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane and Liam Squire had starring roles as New Zealand ran in eight tries to four to beat Australia 54-34 on Saturday in the first test of the Rugby Championship.
Winger Ioane scored a double in the Bledisloe Cup opener to take his tally of tries to five from four test appearances. Fullback McKenzie got his first try in three tests, and flanker Squire scored his second try in eight tests as the All Blacks led 40-6 at half time – and six tries to nil.
Australia rallied with four converted tries in the second half, to winger Curtis Rona on debut, centres Tevita Kuridrani and Kurtley Beale, and fullback Israel Folau.
New Zealand’s points score in Australia exceeded their 51-20 win in 2014, though the winning margin fell short of their record 43-6 victory in 1996. At one point on Saturday, the All Blacks led 54-6.
The result fomented a deeper crisis within Australian rugby which was already struggling after its worst-ever Super Rugby season in which its teams lost all 26 matches against New Zealand opponents.
The Wallabies hoped to bring some solace to fans who have begun to turn away from the sport because of administrative issues and poor on-field performance. Instead, they compounded the impression that the sport in Australia is in disarray.
