New Zealand defeated the Wallabies 50–19 at Eden Park on Saturday, 10 October 2026, producing a dominant second-half performance to retain the Bledisloe Cup and extend their remarkable unbeaten run at the Auckland venue.
The victory came a month after the All Blacks lost three of their four Tests against the Springboks, a series that exposed areas New Zealand needed to improve.
Rennie admits New Zealand fell short in South Africa
Rennie acknowledged that the All Blacks had not met their own expectations during their tour of South Africa.
“We were confident in our ability; we failed in Africa,” Rennie said, reflecting on the series, according to AFP.
The coach indicated that the experience had prompted the team to assess its shortcomings and make progress ahead of the remaining international fixtures.
South Africa’s physical approach, particularly in the scrum, maul and lineout, had placed New Zealand under considerable pressure during the series.
Forward battle remains a key area of focus
The Springboks’ dominance in key set-piece situations was one of the main lessons for New Zealand.
Assistant coach Jason Ryan had previously acknowledged that South Africa’s forward pack was the benchmark in those areas, following an honest review of the defeats.
The All Blacks have been working to improve their execution, physicality and discipline as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Although the victory over Australia represented a positive response, New Zealand will need to demonstrate consistency against the strongest international opponents to show that the lessons have translated into lasting improvements.
All Blacks respond with emphatic Wallabies victory
New Zealand scored seven tries in their 50–19 victory over Australia, with five coming in the second half as they pulled away from their trans-Tasman rivals.
The result extended the All Blacks’ unbeaten run at Eden Park to 54 matches and ensured they retained the Bledisloe Cup.
The performance offered encouraging evidence of progress after the difficult South African tour, although Rennie’s side will continue to face scrutiny as the international season develops.
World Cup preparations gather pace
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaching, New Zealand’s ability to learn from setbacks and adapt their approach will be important.
The Springboks series highlighted the demands of competing against physically powerful opponents, while the victory over Australia provided a timely confidence boost.
For Rennie, the priority will be turning those lessons into sustained improvement rather than allowing one convincing result to obscure the weaknesses exposed in South Africa.