The Wallabies suffered a humiliating 43-7 defeat to the All Blacks at Accor Stadium in Sydney, their 13th consecutive Bledisloe Cup loss, exposing deep fault lines just a year out from the home World Cup.
Australia's capitulation came after an unbeaten run of six Tests, including a win over world No 1 South Africa, but they were monstered by an understrength New Zealand side missing stars Ardie Savea, Ruben Love, Richie Mo'unga and Jordie Barrett.
Early collapse dooms Wallabies
The home side fell 22-0 behind in almost as many minutes, with two kickoffs out on the full and four botched final-pass options in the first 10 minutes. At half-time, New Zealand led by six tries to one and 18 line breaks to one, with the Wallabies missing 21 tackles to their rivals' single miss.
Coach Les Kiss was shell-shocked. "It was damage that's for sure," he said of the dire first half. "None of us accept 22-0. Those line breaks we offered, those missed tackles. The All Blacks are so clinical and they knock you off. A lot of young guys learned a lot but as a team there's got to be more thinking about what it really means to turn up."
Second-half fightback not enough
When the All Blacks scored early in the second half, the 7-43 scoreline mirrored the Wallabies' worst loss in 2020, but with 35 minutes still to play. Kiss emptied his bench, and the Wallabies lifted, but the Bledisloe Cup was gone.
The crowd fired up a Mexican wave on the hour mark and left in droves before the finish, an ugly look at the nation's biggest rugby stadium, which will host the home World Cup.
Glimmers and the road ahead
Rookie fly half Declan Meredith did some good in attack, Max Jorgensen was inventive on his wing, and captain Harry Wilson brought fire and thunder. But Wilson was dejected: "I'm gutted," he said. "It's not good enough. We've got to be a lot better. It's been a very disappointing series."
The Wallabies now face England at Twickenham on 8 November, followed by Scotland and Wales, needing to win all three with bonus points to have any chance of reaching the Nations Championships finals on 27 November.
