New Zealand finishes strong to beat Australia 33-13 in 2nd Bledisloe

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand overcame a slow start and produced a more clinical finish than in recent matches to beat Australia 33-13 on Saturday and sweep the two-test Bledisloe Cup series.

When winger Caleb Clarke scored his second and the All Blacks' fifth try in the 64th minute it was the first time in six tests New Zealand has scored points in the last quarter.

Australia had scored first and kept the game close until just before halftime when New Zealand took a 19-13 lead. The second half belonged to the All Blacks, who scored two tries and 14 unanswered points to win in Wellington for the first time in six years.

“We didn't start too well but I'm really pleased with how we finished,” All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said. “There was some real grit in defense there in the way we held out the Aussies.”

The Wallabies — without a win over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 23 years — started so well they seemed a team transformed in only seven days. A slow start cost them the first test between the teams in Sydney last weekend and the chance to regain the Bledisloe Cup after 21 years.

Australia trailed 28-7 in the first half of that match but rallied strongly before going down 31-28.

On Saturday, the Wallabies posted the first try through backrower Fraser McReight in the eighth minute.

They led 10-5, then 13-12 with a conversion and penalties to Noah Lolesio before New Zealand came back to claim a 19-13 halftime lead. The All Blacks were confined to their own half for long periods in the first half but broke out to score tries through each member of their back three.

Right winger Sevu Reece scored in the 16th minute, fullback Will Jordan in the 22nd and left winger Caleb Clarke in the 41st after the All Blacks, trailing 13-12, passed up a kickable penalty.

The Wallabies trailed at halftime despite having shaded New Zealand on territory and possession and having forced the All Blacks to make more than 90 tackles.

The Wallabies out-muscled the All Blacks in the first spell, most obviously in the lead-up to McReight's try. They were determined to run every piece of possession at New Zealand, even launching attacks from inside their own 22.

The All Blacks lacked discipline at times and conceded the first six penalties of the match. At the same time, the Wallabies' ball security was poor at the end of the first half and start of the second and they gave too much ball back to the All Blacks, who were typically dangerous off turnovers.

A turnover won by Ardie Savea set up Reece's try. Jordan was a constant danger with turnover possession which Australia struggled to contain.

A break by Jordan put New Zealand in an attacking position in the 54th minute and prop Tamaiti Williams scored to make the All Blacks' lead 26-13.

Without possession, Australia began to concede penalties to hand the All Blacks better field position.

“That's not the result we wanted,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said. "I thought our first 40 was really good. We showed up, we started fast but we struggled with possession in the second half.”

Veteran scrumhalf T.J. Perenara left the field in the 62nd after playing his last test for New Zealand and flanker Sam Kane was replaced in the 68th after becoming the 13th New Zealander to play 100 tests.

After scoring his second try and breaking the All Blacks' final-quarter drought, Clarke ended the game in the sin-bin for picking up the ball from an offside position.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke scores a try during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke scores a try as he is tackled by Australia's Hunter Paisami during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

The Bledisloe Cup on display ahead of the Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies, in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Wallace Sititi makes a runduring their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Caleb Clarke runs past Australia's Andrew Kellaway during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Len Ikitau is tackled by New Zealand's Beauden Barrett, right, during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Will Jordan scores a try during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Tupou Vaa'i runs at the defence during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Len Ikitau is tackled by New Zealand's Beauden Barrett, right, during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Fraser McReight, left, passes the ball as New Zealand's Tupou Vaa'i makes a tackle during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Tom Wright takes the ball during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Taniela Tupou reacts as he is attended to by a trainer during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Wallace Sititi makes a run during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Sevu Reece runs past Australia's Len Ikitau to score a try during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

Australia's Nick Frost, right, and New Zealand's Caleb Clarke collide as they compete for the ball during their Rugby Championship match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.(Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

KANPUR, India (AP) — Day two of the second India-Bangladesh cricket test was abandoned without a ball bowled Saturday because of rain.

Persistent rain at the Green Park stadium had again prevented play in the morning session and conditions did not improve thereafter as the entire ground stayed under covers.

Lunch was taken as scheduled with Bangladesh unchanged at 107-3 in 35 overs in its first innings. All 35 overs were bowled on day one, which was also marred by rain.

After lunch, there was too much standing water on the covers.

On Friday, India had won the toss and opted to field for the first time in a home test since 2015.

India won the first test in Chennai by 280 runs to lead the two-match series.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The playing area of the Green Park stadium is covered due to rain on the second day of the second cricket test match between Bangladesh and India in Kanpur, India, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

The playing area of the Green Park stadium is covered due to rain on the second day of the second cricket test match between Bangladesh and India in Kanpur, India, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)