Wounded All Blacks wallop Wallabies for remarkable redemption win
Suvam Pal
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There are two unwritten norms in the big, bold world of rugby union.

Never face the wounded All Blacks. Be at your own risk if you want to breach the ABs bastion of Eden Park.

Fresh from their thumping victory in Perth last weekend, the Wallabies were up against those two deadly factors when they crossed the Tasman Sea to face their neighbors in of pursuit their elusive first Bledisloe Cup trophy since 2002.

However, the outcome was worse than Michael Cheika's boys could have imagined.

The beleaguered New Zealand side not only avenged their morale-crushing defeat within a week but also steamrolled the upbeat Australians 36-0 in one of the most lop-sided games in the tournament's history.

The Saturday savagery also sent a reminder to all the critics and rivals, who were earlier predicting or hoping for an ABs meltdown ahead of next month's Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Ardie Savea of the All Blacks is tackled during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Ardie Savea of the All Blacks is tackled during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

The reinforced squad on Saturday displayed a typical ABs supremacy and dominance with Steve Hansen's boys showcased a physical and polished performance to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a 17th season and quelled concerns the wheels might be coming off before their bid to accomplish a hat-trick of Web Ellis Trophy.

After surviving a few nervous moments following the kick off, the ABs drew the first blood with Flyhalf Richie Mo'unga slotted in the first of his three penalties in the fourth-minute of the game.

However, the home team had to wait for a while before Mo'unga, who also slotted nine points with the boot, scored the first try of the game with an emphatic 40-metre run.

The floodgates were opened soon with the home side seizing complete control of the game.

Even though Mo'unga limped off the pitch with a shoulder injury that could cause some concerns for coach Hansen's World Cup plans his teammates continued with their pulverizing performance against a hapless Australian side.

The ABs juggernaut got the momentum by their side as Aaron Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Sevu Reece and George Bridge also crossed for the hosts to avenge their 47-26 humiliation last week.

Statistically, the Wallabies, who returned scoreless against their arch-rivals for the eighth time, had not beaten the ABs in New Zealand since 2001 – a run of 22 losses – and were winless in Bledisloe tests at Eden Park for the last 33 years.

All Blacks celebrate with the trophy during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

All Blacks celebrate with the trophy during the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

With his side gifting him a sweet victory in his 100th test at the helm of the ABs coaching team, a satisfied Hansen told reporters, "It will take a lesson that we've all learnt in life.

If you get comfortable, you are going to get a punch on the nose. You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Unfortunately, sometimes when you are successful that does happen and, eventually, it catches up and bites you.

So, I am just really proud of the boys, how they responded to last week."

His captain Kieron Read echoed his side's much-needed victory and mentioned, "Great confidence boost for us, but I think it's the week that is probably the biggest lesson for us.

Knowing how to prepare ourselves to get into a mental state and a physical state to put a performance like this. So that's the key that us as leaders and guys in this team, we have to make sure we bottle and use later on in the year."

Although they failed to win this year's shortened Rugby Championship and saw their bête noire Springboks clinching the crown, but the ABs has already sent a terse and timely warning to their rivals ahead of the launch of their title defense against the South Africans in Yokohama on September 21.

(With inputs from agencies)

(Cover photo via VCG)