“I think we’re going to win 36-34,” Jeremy Paul said on Monday. “For us to win, the 10 has to have a blinder.” For 40 minutes Ben Donaldson delivered: he made both Australian tries, and the Wallabies went in 17-14 down.
Harry Wilson made 15 tackles before the break. After it, Australia scored once, a Josh Nasser maul try with four minutes left. Every Wallaby who took the field is rated below.
Who was the Wallabies’ best on the night, and is 5.5 too harsh on Suaalii? Tell us in the comments.
Wallabies player ratings: one good half, then 26 unanswered points
How to read the marks: 6 is a competent Test performance. NR means we couldn’t find enough to score a player fairly.
Wallabies backs: Donaldson made both first-half tries
Opened the scoring on seven minutes, squaring up off Jorgensen’s break to finish, and chased Jorgensen’s second-half break with a grubber towards the line. Against that, he juggled and knocked on into touch on 64 minutes. New Zealand chose the scrum, and Carter scored within two minutes.
Australia’s sharpest runner. He broke through to put Wright away for the opening try. Straight after half-time he broke again from a short-side play to set up Wright’s grubber. Once the Wallabies’ attack stalled in the second half, his supply went with it.
13. Isaac HenryOutside centre · 80 min · insufficient evidence
Played the full 80 in the No 13 jersey Les Kiss handed him, but the live blogs never got to his attack or defence. Three first-half carries are the only individual numbers.
Dropped the ball on the line in the fifth minute, wasting Australia’s best early chance. Three carries before he went off for a head injury assessment (HIA) after 29 minutes; he failed it and did not return.
Carried six times in the first half, more than any other Australian back. The low point came on 70 minutes: a no-arms tackle that handed New Zealand another attacking platform. The aerial threat Australia built their week around barely features in the reports.
Created both first-half tries: his tap pass sent Jorgensen through for Wright’s score, and his break found Wilson in support for the second. Early in the second half his kick in behind forced New Zealand to carry over their own line. It was the blinder Paul said they needed, for one half.
His intercept stopped a certain try after Jordan’s break, but he was flattened trying to clear and New Zealand had a lineout seven metres out. Roigard scored soon after. Converted both first-half tries but missed a penalty from in front, 24 metres out.
6out of 10
Wallabies forwards: Wilson topped the tackle count
Scored Australia’s second try, backing up Donaldson’s break. The top tackler on the field at half-time, with 15. On 59 minutes he and Nasser combined to force a knock-on inside the 22. Nobody in gold worked harder before the break.
Made 10 tackles in the first half, second only to Wilson. He did win ball on the floor, but at least one steal counted for nothing because New Zealand were already playing a penalty advantage. The breakdown threat Kieran Read warned about never fully landed.
His run from his own 22 to beyond halfway early in the second half was one of Australia’s few good moments after the break. A maul penalty soon wasted it. Five first-half carries. Rugby.com.au called his tackle on the scoring Carter a hip-drop; no card was shown.
Four first-half carries are the only individual numbers from a full 80. Australia won all seven of their own lineouts before the break, but nobody said who claimed them.
Credited with Australia’s only first-half turnover, plus four carries. Australia also took New Zealand lineout ball early on, though the jumper isn’t named. Replaced by Lachlan Shaw after 58 minutes.
Nine first-half carries, second only to Sititi on the field. Australia won all seven of their own lineouts before the break, the platform for early maul pressure that drew New Zealand penalties. Replaced by Josh Nasser after 46 minutes.
Scored the 76th-minute consolation from a maul and combined with Wilson for the tackle that forced a knock-on in Australia’s 22. On the debit side, Josh Lord stole a deep Australian lineout during his stint, though a deep call is not the thrower’s alone.
On for Ikitau after 29 minutes. One first-half carry, and his main reported moment was being isolated on 59 minutes, which let Tupaea win a penalty. Isolation reflects slow support as much as the carrier, so it hasn’t been scored against him.
5.5out of 10
Not rated, too little to go on: 17 Aidan Ross (on 57 min, first Test against his old side), 18 Massimo De Lutiis (on 51 min), 19 Lachlan Shaw (on 58 min, first Bledisloe Test), 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny (on 71 min), 21 Tate McDermott (on 62 min).
Highest-rated Wallabies: Ben Donaldson and Harry Wilson (7.5/10). Our overall player of the match was an All Black, Cam Roigard, and his 9 is explained in the All Blacks player ratings.
Suaalii’s 5.5 is the mark we expect to be argued with. Les Kiss kept him on the wing for his aerial game, and that barely shows up in the reports. The no-arms tackle on 70 minutes does.
The sides meet again at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 17 October. Too harsh? Make the case in the comments.
Every mark comes from live commentary and half-time stats
Full time: New Zealand 50-19 Australia (half-time 17-14), Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 10 October 2026.
New Zealand 50. Tries: Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan. Conversions: Damian McKenzie 6. Penalty: McKenzie.
Australia 19. Tries: Tom Wright, Harry Wilson, Josh Nasser. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan 2.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland). No cards were shown. The All Blacks keep the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th straight year, and their unbeaten run at Eden Park now stands at 54 Tests.
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