Australia gave themselves a huge boost ahead of the World Cup when they stunned a New Zealand side reduced to 14 men for half the match 47-26 in a thrilling Rugby Championship Test in Perth on Saturday.
Lock Scott Barrett’s red card for a dangerous tackle just before half time undoubtedly had a big impact on the contest, but the Wallabies were well worth their first win over the world champions since 2017.
Winger Reece Hodge scored two of their six tries as Australia ran up their highest tally of points in 165 Tests against the All Blacks and gave themselves a chance of regaining the Bledisloe Cup they last raised aloft in 2002.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, though, is not happy with his team, saying: “We didn’t perform to the standard that we should do and Australia gave us a lesson in what to do when you have a side down by one man. I know the scoreboard is fairly massive. Not often we get that many scored against us.
“But at 16-12 we are in the game at half time and then Scotty gets sent off and it’s a different game.”
Australia coach Michael Cheika, who was under pressure heading into the tournament, says: “We are all pumped but all we’ve done is bought ourselves a ticket to Auckland [for next week’s clash], that’s it.
“It’s a great atmosphere and great for the players to get the win but in the bigger scheme of things that’s what we’ve got ourselves - a ticket to go there and take the opportunity that we’re going to get given there.
“Let’s get on to the next thing - this is one game in a progression that we’re going to put together this year.”