Caleb Clarke stars as the All Blacks keep Eden Park unbeaten run intact
- 2172
The All Blacks stretched their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 43 with an impressive 27-7 victory over the Wallabies on Sunday as they went 1-0 up in the Bledisloe Cup.
The victory means that Ian Foster is now off the mark with his first win as the All Blacks' head coach following last weekend's 16 all draw in Wellington.
Caleb Clarke was the star of the show as the All Blacks ran in four tries and despite the 22-year-old not scoring in the clash, he had a massive impact.
At the break the All Blacks led by just three, 10-7, but it was early in the second where the All Blacks took control of the game with Clarke playing a role in first two tries inside the first 7 minutes.
Clarke shone in the first making 60 running metres beating six defenders and continued that form in the second making a massive carry from the lineout in the build up to Jordie Barrett's score before his incredible run set up a try for Ardie Savea.
Another look at that run from Caleb Clarke 🤤#NZLvAUS #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/zgDQeSg2T4
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) October 18, 2020
A testing opening moments saw the game remain scoreless before Clarke made a break into the 22 and New Zealand were awarded a penalty.
Richie Mo'unga popped over the three points as the All Blacks opened the scoring after 18 minutes.
Anton Liernert-Brown went off due to injury which gave test debut Peter Umaga-Jensen the opportunity to make his mark. Like Clarke, Umaga-Jensen did not disappoint making a break and offload to Dane Coles which set the All Blacks on their way. A deft kick by Beauden Barrett turned Marika Koroibete who was driven over his own line.
From there the All Blacks capitalised. Jack Goodhue powered from the scrum and was stopped just centimetres short. Aaron Smith spotted his opportunity and snuck over the line near the ruck. The All Blacks led 10-0 after 23 minutes.
The Wallabies needed to respond and they did with Ned Hanigan making a break through Joe Moody, knocking the All Black prop out and ending his game, as Koroibete went over from a pass from Matt Toomua.
That's how things would stand at the break with the All Blacks leading 10-7.
The All Blacks enjoyed a purple patch after the break with Jordie Barrett scoring a try two minutes after the break as Jack Goodhue gave him the last pass after a great carry from the lineout by Clarke.
An even more impressive run from a loose kick from the Wallabies saw Clarke slice through the defence and race into the 22. The All Blacks shifted it wide quicky to Ardie Savea with Richie Mo'unga throwing an excellent pass out to the no.8 to force his way over the line.
CALEB CLARKE!! 😍#NZLvAUS #BledisloeCup
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) October 18, 2020
pic.twitter.com/q1gl18ih93
The Wallabies tested the All Blacks defence but it stood firm.
Their efforts were rewarded once again as Sam Cane darted through the Wallabies' defence to make it a 20 point game with 25 minutes left to play.
Both sides looked to add to their tally with the Wallabies aiming to get a consolation try at the death but it wasn't to be as the All Blacks ran out 27-7 victors.
View this post on InstagramNew Zealand keep up their impressive Eden Park record and go 1-0 up in the #BledisloeCup.
