The Bledisloe Cup was gone for a 23rd straight year, but the Wallabies still had plenty to play for in Perth. It was James Slipper’s final Test after 15 years and 151 games in gold. The Rugby Championship was still winnable and there was a 10-Test losing streak against New Zealand to snap. Most of all, despite four wins from nine in 2025, Australia were desperate to reassure fans they were back as a global force.
And for much of Saturday night’s Test, the Wallabies looked sure to end a 1,792-day drought since they last beat the All Blacks. They were strategically enterprising, accurate off the kicking tee and unleashed long phases of blistering attack. But ultimately, a heathen’s brew of dud luck, ill-discipline and errors cruelled the quest as the Wallabies fell to a 28-14 defeat, extending their losing streak against New Zealand to 11 Tests since 2020. Later on Saturday in London, South Africa secured back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time after beating Argentina 29-27 at Twickenham.
