All Blacks grind out wet win over the Wallabies

Calmness under Australian pressure told the story of the Rugby Championship Test in wet conditions in Perth as the All Blacks claimed a 28-14 bonus point win – a record 11th consecutive win over their Tasman rivals.

Australia threw as much as they could at them in a gallant effort to break their losing run but it was the All Blacks, driven by a desire to gain back-to-back wins, who were the more commanding.

They took their chances when they came, defying the Australian possession advantage, especially during the first half, in which the All Blacks scored three of their four tries and enjoyed a half-time lead of 17-9.

Australia scored through center Len Ikitau with 14 minutes left but the inaccuracy of the home team, who missed 29 tackles to 17 by the All Blacks, who were forced to make 175 tackles, 33 more than Australia, was their issue.

Their concession of penalties in key moments saw the All Blacks awarded a penalty soon after Ikitau's try, which further stretched the margin.

With time running down and the slight hope the All Blacks might have of sneaking to the Championship ahead of South Africa, they went looking for their bonus point and it came in the last play after a scrum and drives at the line with replacement prop George Bower driving through the defence to score.

All Blacks centre Quinn Tupaea looked a natural fit in the backline as evidenced by his brace of tries. Halfback Cam Roigard was watched closely and wing Leicester Fainga'anuku was a bullock with the ball in hand but was generally well covered. No 8 Peter Lakai also impressed off the base of the scrum.

Australia's loose trio were again competitive at the breakdown, with flanker Tom Hooper a constant presence, No 8 Harry Wilson was powerful with the ball in hand, while Fraser McReight was a constant in support. The prospective threat of lock Will Skelton was minimal as he left the field early in the game and failed an HIA test.

Australia didn't die wondering in the first half. They threw the ball around and enjoyed significant possession but apart from a disallowed try to prop Allan Alaalatoa, for an earlier croc roll offence, they didn't manage to break the All Blacks' defence.

Referee Matthew Carley sin-binned flanker Hooper for the roll. However, flyhalf Tane Edmed's three penalties landed in the fifth, 10th and 16th minutes helped Australia to a 9-7 lead until the All Blacks started to secure more consistent possession.

The All Blacks had scored their first try seven minutes after the start when kicking from a penalty gained the ball from the line-out and drove. Tupaea took the ball to the line, then it was wing Leroy Carter who rushed in to halfback, got the ball and drove low to score.

But it wasn't until No 12 Jordie Barrett, kicked a grubber in behind the defence, in the 32nd minute, where the ball rebounded off wing Harry Potter into Barrett's head. Tupaea kicked ahead and outpaced the defence to score.

Australia then kicked the restart out on the full and from the centre field scrum, the All Blacks built an attack. When Australia were caught offside, fullback Will Jordan grabbed the ball, tapped it, and linked with Tupaea, scoring his second try in three minutes.

It wasn't the dazzling display many wanted; the wet conditions put paid to that but it was a controlled, measured effort that demonstrated the All Blacks can play when denied as much ball as they usually like to play with.