The Test record caps a remarkable 12 months in which the All Blacks became the first team to successfully defend the World Cup, retained the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup for a 14th consecutive year and won the Rugby Championship for the fourth time in five years. “This conference tonight seems to have been hijacked by something that’s really got nothing to do with rugby, someone feeling a little aggrieved about things that you guys have done, making him be a clown,” he said. But we can only call it a turning-point if we lose by less than one score.”

Savea’s name was the next on the scoresheet in the 54th minute as New Zealand typically exploited turnover ball inside their own half to set the hulking winger for his 44th try in 49 tests. He was rewarded with his side’s final try which ended a passage of play which lasted more than two minutes, one which started when the Australia flanker Dean Mumm intercepted a pass and ran into New Zealand’s half where the force of Coles’s challenge made him spill the ball. Beauden Barrett missed the extras but four minutes later centre Lienert-Brown was running in the second try after Australia winger Henry Speight’s attempted intercept left a huge hole in the defensive line.
In rugby union, the New Zealand All Blacks win a record 18th consecutive test match, defeating the Australian Wallabies 37–10 at Eden Park, Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand.