All Blacks crush Australia with second-half blitz to retain Bledisloe Cup

Oct 10 : Australia's hopes of wresting back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in a generation were crushed in familiar fashion in a comprehensive 50-19 loss to New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.

The Wallabies were in touch at 17-14 down at halftime but the All Blacks scored five tries after the break to ensure they will retain the symbol of trans-Tasman Sea supremacy for a 24th straight year ahead of next week's second test in Sydney.

Tries from Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa'i, Cam Roigard, skipper Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan combined with 15 points from the boot of flyhalf Damian McKenzie got the All Blacks back to winning ways after three straight losses to South Africa. 

"We were hurting a little bit after the (South Africa series), but it's awesome to come home, play in front of our fans, our people. We've missed it, and to get a result like that, it's hugely proud of the boys," said Taylor, whose try helped New Zealand extend their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 54 matches since 1994.

"This is home for us  ...  You see ex-All Blacks standing on the sidelines. You want to do it for those men, the people that have been before you, and you just want to continue the legacy."

Australia, who came into the game unbeaten in six matches and looking for a first win at Eden Park since 1986, scored first-half tries through fullback Tom Wright and captain Harry Wilson and earned a late consolation score from hooker Josh Nasser.

“Playing them here, it's always going to be tough and we did a really good job to be in the fight after that first half,” said Wilson. 

“We fought back really well and then we had an opportunity at the start of the second half and we blew it, and then it was tough to get the