Wallabies coach Les Kiss insists their Bledisloe Cup loss won't crush the side's momentum after history repeated at Eden Park.
The All Blacks piled on 26 consecutive second-half points to crush hopes of a hoodoo-busting Wallabies win and maintain their 23-year grip on the Bledisloe Cup.
Watch every second of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The hosts, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, won 50-19 on Saturday despite trailing early and left defending their try-line facing another deficit early in the second half.
But, as they have done for decades, the All Blacks wriggled free and then waltzed home behind aerial dominance and blazing flyhalf Damian McKenzie.
Victory extended the All Blacks' unbeaten streak at the venue to 54 games, dating back to 1994, and was the Wallabies' first loss in six games under Kiss.
Their 12th straight defeat of the Wallabies ensured the Bledisloe Cup, theirs since 2003, would remain on this side of the Tasman ahead of next week's Sydney rematch.
And it added another chapter to the Wallabies' Eden Park woes, with the side now 0-24 since last triumphing at the Auckland stadium a staggering 40 years ago.
"They got quick ball, put us under pressure, won the aerial battle and we couldn't get the game into an area we wanted," said Kiss, who credited All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard's pinpoint kicking for their high-ball dominance.
Rival coaches Les Kiss and Dave Rennie shake hands before the match.Rival coaches Les Kiss and Dave Rennie shake hands before the match. (AP PHOTO)
"If you get a knockback you find out more about yourself, and that's what we'll do.
"We'll work hard on what we have to do. Belief is created and sustained by not just wins and losses."
The Wallabies began strongly and, after going close twice, found the opener with a brilliant Ben Donaldson tip-pass that set up Tom Wright.
McKenzie then imposed himself with two blazing runs from about halfway and the hosts suddenly led 14-7.
The All Blacks' No.10, shifted from fullback for this Test after a midweek injury to Richie Mo'uga, contributed to the Wallabies' 10 missed tackles in the first 30 minutes.
Gun Australian centre Len Ikitau then exited with concussion - he'll be in serious doubt for the Sydney Test - Harry Potter replacing him on the wing and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shifted infield.
A Jeremy Williams pilfer halted the All Blacks' momentum but, after winning a penalty directly in front 35m out, the reliable Ryan Lonergan missed the kick for three points.
McKenzie obliged at the other end to extend the lead, but the Wallabies had the final say of the half.
Suaalii won possession on a high kick and then charged into the line before Donaldson again made the break to set up skipper Harry Wilson under the posts for a 17-14 halftime score.
Australia threatened again from the restart after another clean break, but a costly obstruction in a five-metre lineout spoiled the likely go-ahead try.
The All Blacks, thanks to more good work under high balls, marched down-field and Roigard darted over to make it a 10-point margin.
That seemed to click the hosts into top gear, with Codie Taylor the next over and the 46,352 Auckland faithful finally relaxing into their seats.
Both teams rung the changes but the Wallabies bench, missing the unavailable Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper, weren't able to turn the tide.
A late Josh Nasser try ended the All Blacks' run with five minutes to play, but Will Jordan struck the final nail, winning the sprint to a loose Declan Meredith pass to score after the siren.
Rennie, for once on the right side of a Bledisloe outcome, credited his side's "mindset, work rate and brutality", but tipped the Wallabies to rebound.
"It's a tough end for them, but was nice to catch up and they'll be hurting," he said.
