Australia scored six tries in trashing New Zealand 47-26 in the Rugby Championship to claim the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year. Reece Hodge scored twice while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, scrum-half Nic White, winger Marika Koroibete and full-back Kurtley Beale also crossed the whitewash in Perth to take advantage of All Black Scott Barrett’s dismissal just before the break.
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The second-rower was red-carded for a dangerous tackle just prior to half-time, meaning the Kiwis were always going to be up against it during the second 40 minutes. The Wallabies led 16-12 at the interval thanks to Hodge’s early score and three Christian Lealiifano penalties while Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane crossed for New Zealand to keep the visitors within touching distance.
However, the floodgates opened after the break, with a four-try blitz from Salakaia-Loto, White, Koroibete and Beale while Hodge added his second. Beauden Barrett and Ngani Laumape scored five-pointers for New Zealand but they were very much second best as the Aussies ran riot.
