Sports · Other Sports · 17 hrs ago
Wallabies target more accurate kicks after losing aerial battle to All Blacks
Australia lost the first of its Bledisloe Cup matches against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
The Wallabies scored twice in the first half, but New Zealand controlled much of the game, especially the contest for high kicks.
Australia had beaten South Africa in that contest in Perth, but New Zealand turned the same tactic against them, winning the possession count from these kicks by 8-3.
Wallabies flyhalf Ben Donaldson said Australia’s kicks were sometimes too deep or slightly inaccurate, while the team also needed to move back more urgently after kicking.
New Zealand’s halfback Cam Roigard put Australia under pressure with accurate kicks, and Australia sometimes struggled to communicate about who should catch the ball.
These kicks are now common in Test rugby, and New Zealand coach Dave Rennie said receiving teams catch only about one in four.
Australia will have another chance to address the problem in the second Bledisloe Cup match the following week.
Australia plans to improve its kicking accuracy before the second Bledisloe Cup clash after losing the aerial contest to New Zealand.
The All Blacks won the regained-possession battle 8-3 at Eden Park, reversing Australia’s 8-3 advantage against South Africa.
Wallabies fly-half Ben Donaldson said Australia’s kicking was less accurate than it had been against the Springboks.
Coach Les Kiss said New Zealand’s accuracy and forward momentum put Australia under pressure.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said receiving teams catch only about one in four box kicks.
- Who
- Australia’s Wallabies and New Zealand’s All Blacks.
- What
- Australia lost the aerial contest and plans to improve its kicking accuracy before the second Bledisloe Cup clash.
- When
- The match was played on Saturday; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Eden Park, Auckland.
- Why
- New Zealand’s kicks were more accurate and gave the All Blacks momentum, while Australia’s kicks were often too deep to be genuinely contestable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
And then today, you know, might be 10 per cent off, but that adds up in the end. We’ll get another crack next week, which is the great thing about rugby.
They were certainly a lot more accurate than our kicks when we put them up, that’s for sure.
As you know, receiving or retrieving those kicks are difficult – I think teams are catching one out of four that are receiving teams – so that’s the nature of the game at the moment.
Australia lost the aerial contest to New Zealand at Eden Park.
Ben Donaldson and Les Kiss identified kicking accuracy and urgency as areas for Australia to improve.
Australia is due to play the second Bledisloe Cup clash.
- Regained possession against South Africa
- Wallabies led 8-3
- Regained possession against Australia
- All Blacks led 8-3
- Box kicks caught by receiving teams
- About 25 per cent, according to Dave Rennie
- Match venue
- Eden Park, Auckland
- Next match
- Second Bledisloe Cup clash
Sources
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