The All Blacks completed a decade of Bledisloe Cup dominance and extended Australia’s misery on New Zealand soil with a decisive 27-16 win in Wellington.
Winger Ben Smith scored two tries to continue his prolific form as the All Blacks absorbed a powerful Australian start to record a 27th successive Test win on home soil.
It is their 15th in a row at home to the Wallabies since 2001 and ensures the Bledisloe Cup resides in New Zealand for another year after it last changed hands in 2003.
Smith scored a hat-trick in last week’s 47-29 win in Sydney and was on the end of the chain in the 27th and 37th minutes to put the All Blacks 15-6 ahead at halftime.
They suffocated the visitors for much of the second half before Wallabies wing Israel Folau scored a long range intercept try to give his side a glimmer of hope with eight minutes remaining.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen praised his team’s ruthlessness after operating with considerably less possession.
“The biggest factor was the ability to make the most of our opportunities. When we had opportunities we scored tries,” he said.
“I think we only missed two or three the whole night. Whereas they created opportunities and, other than the intercept, they didn’t take them.”
All Blacks first five-eighth Tom Taylor kicked 14 points on debut in a five-from-eight return with the boot.
New Zealand marked prop Tony Woodcock’s 100th Test with a forward effort which grew stronger as the match wore on, especially at scrum time.
The world champions benefited from a 16-8 penalty count in their favour, with the Wallabies frequently frustrated by the rulings of South African referee Jaco Peyper.
“It probably wasn’t our prettiest Test match but it was good enough and we’ll take that, especially when we win the big prize of the Cup,” Hansen said.
Australia deserved their 6-0 lead after 25 minutes courtesy of two penalties to second five-eighth Christian Lealiifano.
They dominated the collisions and disrupted the All Blacks’ early lineout but were often foiled by the rulings of Peyper or their inability to crack a desperate All Blacks tryline defence.
Ben Smith’s first try came against the run of play thanks to some quick hands from fellow-wing Julian Savea and fullback Israel Dagg.
Taylor converted and slotted a penalty in the 37th minute before Smith darted over again on the stroke of halftime courtesy of a break by flanker Steven Luatua. It was Smith’s seventh try in his last four Tests.
A Taylor penalty was cancelled out by Lealiifano in a third quarter which was marked by the growing dominance of New Zealand’s scrum.
Taylor’s third and fourth penalties pushed the hosts 24-9 ahead before Folau swooped to ensure Australia didn’t go tryless for a third consecutive Test in New Zealand.
Hansen was full of praise for Taylor, who produced an assured debut.
“He was the confident, mature young player that we thought he would be.
“Everyone knows he’s the fourth choice and he comes with a lot of pressure, because he’s the son of an All Black (Warwick Taylor).
“I thought he coped tremendously well all week.”