On a rain-soaked Saturday in Perth, New Zealand's All Blacks delivered a clinical 28-14 victory over the Australian Wallabies, keeping their Rugby Championship hopes alive—if only for a few hours. The triumph, witnessed by a crowd of 60,113, many of whom donned black, propelled the All Blacks to the top of the standings. But as the night wore on, all eyes turned to Twickenham in London, where South Africa faced Argentina in a showdown that would ultimately decide the southern hemisphere's rugby supremacy.
The Perth clash was billed as a swansong for Wallaby stalwart James Slipper, Australia's most capped player, who took the field for his 151st and final Test. The Wallabies, desperate to break a decade-long drought in the Rugby Championship and halt a record 11-match losing streak against their trans-Tasman rivals, started with fire. They pressed hard in the opening exchanges, with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini adding muscle to the forward pack. But fate had other ideas: Skelton was forced off after just 14 minutes following a failed Head Injury Assessment, leaving the Australians to regroup without one of their anchors.
Despite the setback, the Wallabies looked threatening early on. Leroy Carter burrowed over for the opening try in the seventh minute, raising hopes of an upset. The Wallabies even thought they'd crossed again through Allan Alaalatoa, but the effort was scrubbed for an infringement by Tom Hooper, resulting in a yellow card. The momentum swung. As rain began to pelt down, the All Blacks absorbed the pressure and pounced with devastating efficiency.
Quinn Tupaea emerged as the hero for New Zealand, scoring two tries late in the first half to break the contest open. The All Blacks went into the break with a 17-9 lead, though Damian McKenzie had an off night with the boot, missing a conversion from point-blank range. "I think the Wallabies certainly showed up and even though the conditions were greasy, they chanced their arm and gave the ball a bit of air and at times they hurt us, particularly in their first 30," All Blacks captain Scott Barrett reflected after the match. "We sort of hung in there, and we were able to put the ball in behind, and we capitalised on a couple of those. So pleasing result to finish like that. There's some great lessons for this team to take forward and what it means to put on the black jersey and front up every week."
The second half began with a standing ovation for Slipper, who was substituted shortly after the resumption. The All Blacks, still smarting from missed opportunities, found their rhythm again as McKenzie rediscovered his kicking touch in the 61st minute, slotting a crucial penalty to extend the lead. The Wallabies, showing real grit, responded with a try from Len Ikitau, but New Zealand's composure held firm. A late penalty from McKenzie snuffed out any hopes of an Australian comeback, sealing a result that was both clinical and, for Wallabies fans, all too familiar.
For the Australians, the defeat marked the end of their already slim title hopes and extended their losing streak against New Zealand to an unprecedented 11 matches. "It was competitive, but we're not out here to be competitive, we're here to win, and the game was there for us," Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said, his disappointment palpable. "Test footy is fine margins and we weren't good enough tonight. We've definitely progressed in this Rugby Championship, but ultimately we didn't get the results in the last few games that we wanted, which is really disappointing."
Back in the All Blacks camp, the mood was buoyant but measured. The win, combined with their earlier 33-24 triumph at Eden Park, ensured they retained the Bledisloe Cup and applied maximum pressure on South Africa, who needed victory over Argentina to snatch the Rugby Championship title away from New Zealand's grasp.
The spotlight then shifted to London, where South Africa and Argentina squared off at Twickenham. With the All Blacks perched atop the standings, the Springboks knew only a win would suffice. What followed was nothing short of a rugby epic. Argentina, playing with ferocious intensity, led at halftime and threatened to derail South Africa's title ambitions. But the world champions, led by Siya Kolisi, unleashed their trademark power game in the second half, surging to a 29-13 advantage that looked unassailable.
Yet, rugby is never short on drama. The Pumas mounted a stirring late comeback, with Rodrigo Isgro scoring deep into stoppage time after Santiago Carreras narrowly missed a penalty that would have swung the contest. Ultimately, South Africa held on for a nail-biting 29-27 victory, clinching back-to-back Rugby Championship crowns for the first time in their storied history. "It was a tough day," Kolisi admitted, "Credit to Argentina, who came hard. I am so proud of our boys. It was not the perfect game but the fight we show each and every time. The players we have coming off the bench are so special. We have been playing against a quality teams and it has been a tough Rugby Championship."
Scrum-half Cobus Reinach, who scored twice in the campaign, echoed the sentiment: "It is unreal [to win consecutive Rugby Championships]. We have not won it ever back-to-back. Going back-to-back shows a lot of character. We are growing, there are a lot of improvements still to make. You are not going to run over any team. Argentina are unreal and have a lot of dog in them. Like us, they keep fighting. It is one of the best jobs in the world to be the scrum-half behind our pack."
The final whistle in London confirmed what had become a familiar theme in recent years: South Africa, under Rassie Erasmus, continue to set the benchmark in world rugby. The All Blacks, despite their impressive win in Perth, were left to rue missed opportunities and the fine margins that define Test rugby at the highest level. For Australia, the focus now shifts to rebuilding and honoring the legacy of James Slipper, who departs as a legend of the game.
As the dust settles on a tumultuous day for southern hemisphere rugby, fans are left with no shortage of talking points. The Wallabies' search for answers continues, the All Blacks regroup with lessons learned, and the Springboks, once again, reign supreme as champions of the Rugby Championship.
