New Zealand’s biggest losses after Wallabies walloping

New Zealand suffered the joint-heaviest loss in their history on Saturday as Australia thumped the All Blacks 47-26 in Perth.

Michael Cheika’s side took full advantage of Scott Barrett’s red card on the stroke of half-time, with the Wallabies ending a run of six successive Rugby Championship defeats against the All Blacks in style.

The loss ensured New Zealand will not win the tournament for the first time in four years, while they could also relinquish their grip on the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

Here, we take a look at the heaviest defeats in the All Blacks’ history.

21 – The @qantaswallabies have inflicted a 21-point win over New Zealand, the joint-biggest win of any team over the All Blacks in Test history (AUS 28-7 NZL in August 1999). Goliath.#AUSvNZL #RugbyChampionship https://t.co/VAQLX0Amki

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) August 10, 2019

AUSTRALIA 47-26 NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 10, 2019

The All Blacks were only one point behind when Barrett was dismissed in the 40th minute for an apparent shoulder charge on Michael Hooper at Optus Stadium.

Australia scored six tries against the 14 men, Reece Hodge adding to his first-half effort while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nic White, Marika Koroibete and Kurtley Beale also went over.

The 47 points are the most New Zealand have ever conceded, surpassing the 46 South Africa put up 19 years earlier.

Hats off Australia, what can we say? Well played.#AUSvNZL #BACKBLACKpic.twitter.com/zU5F7TlV63

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 10, 2019

AUSTRALIA 28-7 NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 28, 1999

Unlike Saturday’s try-fest, the Wallabies only ran in one five-pointer through Mark Connors the last time they beat New Zealand by 21 points.

It was Matt Burke’s boot that proved the difference in the Tri Nations clash as he converted seven penalties, while the All Blacks were restricted to a lone score from Andrew Mehrtens.

New Zealand still won the tournament but Australia’s victory meant they did retain the Bledisloe Cup.

SOUTH AFRICA 17-0 NEW ZEALAND – JUNE 30, 1928

Twenty-five years after their inaugural Test, the All Blacks toured South Africa for the first time and won six of their seven tour matches before coming up against the Springboks in Durban.

New Zealand failed to put a point on the board that day and the 17-0 triumph remains South Africa’s biggest victory over them.

The four-Test series was drawn, though, as the All Blacks recovered to win at Ellis Park and Newlands.

ENGLAND 38-21 NEW ZEALAND – DECEMBER 1, 2012

Despite winning the Rugby World Cup the year before, New Zealand proved no match for a rampant England side at Twickenham in 2012.

England defeat world champions New Zealand 38-21 in the final QBE International at Twickenham. What a performance #ENGvNZ

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) December 1, 2012

The All Blacks were unbeaten in 20 matches but found themselves 15-0 down thanks to Owen Farrell’s kicking before tries from Julian Savea and Kieran Read reduced the deficit to just one point.

Yet Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi all went in to hand England their first win over New Zealand in nine years.

AUSTRALIA 26-10 NEW ZEALAND – JULY 12, 1980

Nearly 50,000 were at the SCG to witness the Wallabies face a New Zealand side who had been hit by an illness bug in the build-up.

The final score was therefore perhaps not surprising, with Australia 14 points up by half-time.

Test debutant Peter Grigg scored two of his team’s four tries at a time when dotting down was worth only four points rather than five.

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