Australia defeated by New Zealand 14-28 in Rugby Championship
Wallabies showed fight but were undone by errors and bad luck
The Bledisloe Cup was gone for a 23rd straight year for Australia but the Wallabies still had plenty to play for in Perth. It was James Slipper's final Test after 15 years and 151 games in gold. The Rugby Championship was still winnable and there was a 10-Test losing streak against New Zealand to snap. Most of all, despite four wins from nine in 2025, the Australians were desperate to reassure fans they were "back" as a global rugby force.
And for much of Saturday night's Test, the Wallabies looked sure to end a 1,792 day drought since last beating the All Blacks. They were strategically enterprising, accurate off the kicking tee and unleashed long phases of blistering attack. But ultimately, a heathen's brew of dud luck, ill-discipline and errors cruelled the quest as the Wallabies fell to a 28-14 defeat, extending their losing streak against New Zealand to 11 Tests since 2020.
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