New Zealand continued their absolute dominance of the rugby world with another lop-sided victory against southern hemisphere opposition.
They hammered Australia 37-10 to claim a world-record 18th test win in a row before they head north to play Ireland twice, Italy and France on their end of year tour.
Australia can feel slightly aggrieved after they had a try controversially disallowed which would have brought them level at 15-15 with a conversion to come. Instead, TMO Shaun Veldsman ruled that Julian Savea was obstructed from making a tackle and the score was chalked off.
💯Congratulations @AllBlacks - a new Tier 1 record of 1⃣8⃣ successive victories after 37-10 defeat of Australia at Eden Park pic.twitter.com/h5d5WRWF8a
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 22, 2016
New Zealand punished any mistake Australia made with Savea and Dane Coles particularly ruthless. In the end, they ran in six tries to one.
Afterwards, Wallaby coach Michael Cheika was in foul mood indicating how far relations between the two rugby neighbours have plummeted. A few weeks ago before the test in Sydney, the New Zealand management asked local police to intervene after they believed they were bugged. Cheika's anger was aimed at the delay in making their knowledge of the alleged bug public along with a strenuous denial.
"I would say they caught me a bit offside with the accusation that we tried to bug them," he said at the post-match press conference.
"Really? Hello? Honestly? They had that the whole week. That showed a lack of respect. I wouldn't be smart enough to get that sort of stuff organised. I am too busy working on my own thing."
"They don't need to do that kind of stuff. It's only because they want to try to needle me or us or whatever. I wouldn't say we are friendly but, then again, you are not supposed to be friendly with the opposition, are you?" he added.
Next up for New Zealand it's Ireland in Chicago.
18 and undefeated for the @AllBlacks. A new world record but now it's onto the North. Who can stop the #ForceOfBlack? pic.twitter.com/Rh4dvno47l
— adidas Rugby (@adidasrugby) October 22, 2016
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