All Blacks overpower Australia at Eden Park to retain Bledisloe Cup

New Zealand defeated Australia at Eden Park in the First Test of the Bledisloe Cup on 10 October 2026, retaining the trophy contested annually between the two nations. The win extended New Zealand's long unbeaten run in Auckland and halted a recent losing sequence for the hosts.

New Zealand have not lost at Eden Park since 1994 and the victory increased their unbeaten run in Auckland to 54 Tests; it also kept the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand for a 23rd consecutive year. The result ended a three-match losing streak for the All Blacks following their 3-1 series defeat by South Africa this summer.

The match was close at half-time, with Australia trailing New Zealand 17-14, but New Zealand produced a dominant second-half display and scored five tries after the interval. Damian McKenzie kicked 15 points; the match summary records "Cons: McKenzie (6)" and "Pens: McKenzie." The Australian kicking tally is recorded as "Cons: Lonergan (2)."

New Zealand's try scorers were Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa'i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan. Australia's tries came from Tom Wright, Harry Wilson and Josh Nasser.

Australia took an early lead through Tom Wright after controlling the opening stages, but New Zealand responded with tries from Lakai and Vaa'i to turn the match. The All Blacks' scrum-half Cam Roigard was noted for his searching kicks as part of New Zealand's response.

Shortly after the break Roigard scored, and New Zealand added further tries from Taylor, Carter, Moorby and Jordan as Australia struggled to contain repeated New Zealand pressure. Josh Nasser added a late try for the visitors, but the match was beyond Australia's reach by that point.

Victory for Australia would have been their first at Eden Park since 1986; instead the defeat was Australia's first since Les Kiss succeeded Joe Schmidt in July, ending a six-game unbeaten run for the Wallabies.

New Zealand named: B Barrett; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Carter; McKenzie, Roigard; De Groot, Taylor (c), Newell, S Barrett, Lord, Vaa'i, Lakai, Sititi. Replacements: Aumua, Bower, Tosi, Frizell, Segner, Preston, Loane, Moorby. Australia named: Wright; Jorgensen, Henry, Ikitau, Sua'ali'i; Donaldson, Lonergan; Bell, Paenga-Amosa, Alaalatoa, Williams, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, McReight, Wilson (c). Replacements: Nasser, Ross, De Lutiis, Shaw, De Crespigny, McDermott, Meredith, Potter. Assistant referees were Luke Pearce (Eng) and Damian Schneider (Arg).

The two-Test series concludes with the second match at Accor Stadium in Sydney on 17 October.