The pressure is on Ewen McKenzie after the Wallabies fell to an 18-point loss to the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney last night.

A relentlessly clinical, six-try performance from the New Zealanders brought the hopeful start to the McKenzie era to a screeching halt, Australia going down 47-29.

A last minute try to five-eighth turned winger James O’Connor, and a breathtaking length-of-field effort from halfback Will Genia couldn’t disguise the fact the Wallabies utterly failed to make any magic happen in attack.

The All Blacks, in contrast, cemented their status as the benchmark in world rugby with a slicker than ever performance that produced in every facet where the Wallabies could not.

A hat-trick of tries to Ben Smith continued the Highlanders winger’s excellent Test form, while returning captain Richie McCaw’s 72 minute performance proved he has lost nothing during his time off.

Meanwhile, South Africa thumped Argentina 73-13 in the other Rugby Championship match this morning.


Story by: Rohit Deo