All Blacks sweep Bledisloe Cup series with 43-21 Sydney win over Wallabies

What happened

The All Blacks dominated the second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney on Saturday, defeating the Wallabies 43-21 to sweep the series after their 50-19 Eden Park victory a week earlier. The All Blacks were clinical in the first half, scoring six tries and leading 36-7 at halftime, including four tries in 14 minutes. Peter Lakai was named man of the match, while Beauden Barrett scored twice including a 60-metre intercept try. The performance showcased the All Blacks' attacking depth and ruck speed. The second half saw the All Blacks' intensity wane as they failed to score again, with the Wallabies winning the period 14-7. Injuries mounted for the All Blacks, forcing them to finish with 14 men and then 13 after Chay Fihaki's yellow card, yet they still cruised to victory in front of 73,399 at Accor Stadium. Head coach Dave Rennie praised his team's first-half clinical execution while acknowledging frustration at their second-half accuracy. The Wallabies have now suffered their 13th straight Bledisloe defeat, the longest losing streak in the rivalry's history.

Why it matters

The All Blacks swept the Bledisloe Cup series after beating the Wallabies 50-19 at Eden Park on 10 October. This second victory in Sydney, despite multiple injuries and finishing with fewer than 15 players, extends an unprecedented losing streak for Australia, who have now failed to win 13 consecutive Bledisloe Cup matches.

Follow the whole thread: All Blacks 2026 Bledisloe Cup squad and selection

Key facts

• All Blacks won 43-21 in Sydney on Saturday, 17 October
• Wallabies' 13 consecutive Bledisloe Cup losses, the longest streak in history
• All Blacks scored six tries in first half, including four in 14 minutes
• Peter Lakai named man of the match
• Accor Stadium attendance: 73,399

What happens next

The All Blacks head to Europe for Nations Championship test matches against Scotland, Wales and England to finish their season; Australia's next home test is in Perth on Anzac Day 2027.

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Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.

Where the outlets differ

Stuff and 1News emphasise player ratings and the two-half narrative (dominant first, frustrating second). The NZ Herald's full article provides more depth on individual performances, tactical analysis, and questions the sporting value of a one-sided contest, while 1News focuses on Rennie's post-match commentary and injury management. The Stuff headline requests reader input on player ratings rather than reporting the match result.

What outlets are saying