All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with 33-24 win over Australia at Eden Park

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year after a 33-24 win over Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. The result keeps the All Blacks atop the Rugby Championship standings with one match left and comes after their record defeat to South Africa last weekend, a setback they quickly moved to erase with a confident performance in front of a home crowd. The victory also extended New Zealand’s unbeaten run at Eden Park to 52 matches and reinforced a sense of continuity in a trophy that has become a fixture of the national sporting calendar.

New Zealand started strongly, taking control inside the opening exchanges. Caleb Clarke crossed inside three minutes, followed by tries from Leroy Carter and Cam Roigard to establish a 20-3 lead midway through the first half. Australia answered with a try from hooker Billy Pollard and then Harry Potter finished a movement just before halftime to trim the deficit to three at the interval. The All Blacks pushed further ahead with two penalties from Damian McKenzie after the break, while Australia’s forwards continued to contest and hunt for opportunities throughout the second half.

Two more points from McKenzie extended the margin, but the Wallabies refused to surrender, as flanker Carlo Tizzano crossed for a converted try to set up a frantic final 10 minutes with New Zealand clinging to a three-point lead. The decisive moment arrived when scrum-half Cam Roigard finished a Jordie Barrett pass under the posts to seal the win and keep the cup in New Zealand hands.

New Zealand now lead the Rugby Championship with one match remaining, though South Africa can reclaim top spot by beating Argentina later on Saturday. Australia sit in second with two wins and three losses, heading to Perth for a rematch with the All Blacks next weekend. Australia have not won at Eden Park since 1986 and have now suffered 23 straight defeats there.

The two-nation Bledisloe Cup will be decided over two matches in 2025, and if the series ends 1-1 the cup remains with the holders.