All Blacks put one hand on Championship after thumping Wallabies victory

New Zealand have put one hand on the 2022 Rugby Championship trophy after romping to a 40-14 win over Australia with a bonus-point victory in Auckland on Saturday.

Tries by Will Jordan, Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock and Samisoni Taukei'aho plus a first-half penalty try at Eden Park kept New Zealand top of the table in the final round of matches ensuring they have a strong chance of retaining the Rugby Championship for another season.

New Zealand had built a 17-0 lead by halftime off the back of a well-taken score by Will Jordan and one penalty try, and then quickly scored again after the break to set a tough target for their opposition.

While Australia were able to eventually break NZ’s defence in the final quarter, the All Blacks didn’t lie down and their four second-half efforts ensured a confident winning margin.

For the Wallabies, they couldn’t replicate their heroics last week that saw them almost emerge victorious. They were once again loose at the breakdown and coughed up two costly yellow cards, their seventh and eighth of the competition which ended up giving them a hard time coping with the All Blacks.

With the emphatic result, New Zealand left South Africa with all the work to do if they are to cause any unlikely swing to where the Championship goes.

Coming up against Argentina later on Saturday afternoon, the Springboks have to win with a bonus point and by a margin of at least 39 points to clinch the title by tiebreaker.

The Jacques Nienaber coached side will be feeling confident as they flexed their muscles to fend off a late Argentina comeback last week, when two late tries secured a 36-20 win and earned them an all-important bonus point, but it awaits to be seen how they will face the game later on today.

The match kicks off at 1805EAT.