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New Zealand bounced back from their record Test defeat to thrash Australia 36-0 in Auckland.<\/p>\nNew Zealand bounced back from their record Test defeat to thrash Australia 36-0 in Auckland.<\/p>\n
Australia had beaten New Zealand 47-26 in Perth seven days earlier, the heaviest defeat in the All Blacks\u2019 583-Test history.<\/p>\n
But it was a different story at Eden Park as outside-half Richie Mo\u2019unga scored 14 points and New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup.<\/p>\n
Mo\u2019unga was among the All Blacks\u2019 five try-scorers but, with the World Cup opener against South Africa just five weeks away, provided cause for concern when he suffered a heavy tackle from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and left the action nursing his right shoulder.<\/p>\n
Mo\u2019unga had opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty before opposite number Christian Lealiifano missed two kicks, the first one striking an upright.<\/p>\n
Lealiifano\u2019s profligacy was to prove costly when Reece Hodge spilt a Kurtley Beale pass after 29 minutes and Mo\u2019unga produced a smart pick up to burst over from 60 metres.<\/p>\n
New Zealand went further ahead three minutes later as Beauden Barrett instigated a devastating counter-attack.<\/p>\n
George Bridge was on hand to break between two defenders and freed Aaron Smith for his 17th Test try, with Mo\u2019unga adding the extras again.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks were reduced to 14 men when Dane Coles grabbed scrum-half Nic White around the neck and threw him to the ground judo-style.<\/p>\n
But New Zealand still dominated \u2013 their seven-man scrum overpowered Australia\u2019s eight-strong pack \u2013 and Sonny Bill Williams barreled over six minutes after the restart.<\/p>\n
Sevu Reece extended the lead with his first Test try, winning the race to his own kick for Barrett to convert before fellow winger Bridge wrapped up an emphatic win in the closing stages.<\/p>\n