'Blew the visitors away': World media reacts to All Blacks win over Wallabies

The world media reacts to the All Blacks’ 50-19 victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park.

‘The honeymoon period... now appears over’

Daniel Schofield, UK Daily Telegraph

Australia were well in the contest in the first half, scoring excellent tries through Tom Wright and Harry Wilson, only trailing by three points at the break.

But with the outstanding Cam Roigard pulling the strings at scrum-half, New Zealand overwhelmed Australia with their physical intensity in the carry and the breakdown. They also dominated the aerial contest.

It means the Bledisloe Cup has now been in New Zealand’s possession since 2002, while Australia have now lost 12 straight games to their great rivals.

The Wallabies suffered a 31-point defeat at Eden Park. Photo / Alyse Wright

The honeymoon period under Kiss, highlighted by a defeat of world champions South Africa in Perth, now appears over with Australia seemingly having no answers to the All Blacks’ physical dominance.

‘Lacked the finishing touches’

Henry Lee, Rugby Pass

The All Blacks have locked away the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th consecutive season, outclassing Les Kiss’ Wallabies at Eden Park to claim a 50-19 victory.

The Wallabies travelled across the ditch to Auckland with hope, and the form to back it up, but Dave Rennie and the All Blacks stormed home at their storied fortress.

It was clinical from the home side in the second period, a stark contrast to the first, where the home side couldn’t capitalise on the given opportunities.

The Wallabies struggled to impose themselves at Eden Park. Kiss’ side had moments where they put intense pressure on the All Blacks, but too often, they lacked the finishing touches.

Wallabies slump to record Bledis-low

Sam Worthington, Nine

The Wallabies haven’t beaten the All Blacks at the venue since 1986.

New Zealand’s 12th straight win over Australia also set a new trans-Tasman record as Les Kiss experienced his first loss as Wallabies coach.

Scott Barrett returned to the All Blacks for the first time in 2026. Photo / Alyse Wright

The last Wallabies coach to beat the All Blacks was Dave Rennie in 2020.

Rennie is now coaching New Zealand after Rugby Australia flicked him in favour of Eddie Jones.

The Wallabies will be playing for pride only in Sydney next weekend.

‘New Zealand preserved rugby’s established hierarchy’

Jack Snape, The Guardian

New Zealand preserved rugby’s established hierarchy with a 50-19 blowout victory over Australia that secures the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th year and pushes the All Blacks’ unbeaten run over the Wallabies at Eden Park into a fifth decade.

The Wallabies lost touch with their hosts in the second half despite a valiant but futile defensive performance led by the captain Harry Wilson, who had scored a try just before half-time to keep his side in the contest.

Les Kiss’s side will return home bruised and disappointed, with their unbeaten run extinguished at six matches. Most of all, however, they will rue a missed opportunity early in the second half that marked the match’s decisive point.

‘Brutal second-half performance’

Josh Higgins, Fox Sports

The result extended New Zealand’s incredible unbeaten run at Eden Park to 56 consecutive tests and ensured Australia’s long wait for a win at the famous venue continued.

The Wallabies have beaten the All Blacks just four times at Eden Park, with their last victory coming all the way back in 1986.

And just to put that drought into perspective, not a single player in either squad was born the last time Australia won in Auckland.

The All Blacks maintained their winning streak at Eden Park with a victory over the Wallabies. Photo / Alyse Wright

Australia also hasn’t held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002, with New Zealand continuing its incredible dominance of the trans-Tasman rivalry.

The Wallabies will now have to regroup ahead of the second Test in Sydney on October 17 as they look to respond to a brutal second-half performance from the All Blacks.

‘Humiliated by the All Blacks’

Luke Pentony, the ABC

The Wallabies have been humiliated by the All Blacks via a 50-19 thumping in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park.

The victory means the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year, having held the precious silverware since 2003.

They also pushed their winning streak over the Wallabies out to 12 Tests and gave coach Dave Rennie a triumph in his first meeting with his former side.

Despite arriving in Auckland in a buoyant mood, the Les Kiss-coached Wallabies will return to Australia with their tail between their legs.

Their hopes of ending a 40-year losing streak against the All Blacks at Eden Park were dashed after the home side ran rampant in the second half.

‘Blew the visitors away’

Paul Battison, BBC Sport

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year as they powered past Australia to extend their remarkable unbeaten run at Eden Park.

The All Blacks have not lost at the venue since 1994, with a dominant second-half display increasing their unbeaten run in Auckland to 54 Tests.

Australia remained in touch at half-time at 17-14 down but New Zealand blew the visitors away after the break, scoring five tries.

Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan all scored as fly-half Damian McKenzie kicked 15 points to help the All Blacks retain the trophy which is contested annually between the two nations.

Victory halted a three-match losing streak for the All Blacks after the 3-1 series defeat by world champions South Africa this summer.

Defeat for the Wallabies was their first since head coach Les Kiss succeeded Joe Schmidt in July, ending their six-game unbeaten run.