New Zealand clean sweep Bledisloe Cup

New Zealand players acknowledge the crowds applause after the third Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on 5 September 2021 – AFP

PERTH (AFP): New Zealand coach Ian Foster lauded his team’s attitude as the All Blacks started a tour “like no other” Sunday with a commanding 38-21 victory over Australia in Perth to clean sweep the Bledisloe Cup.

Despite missing a slew of stars and having their preparations interrupted, the all-conquering All Blacks held the Wallabies scoreless in a lively first half and kept their foot on the gas throughout.

At a sun-drenched Optus Stadium, in the first daytime Bledisloe Cup match in Australia since 1996, the All Blacks ran in six-to-three tries in front of a near-capacity crowd of 52,724.

The All Blacks showed no ill effects a “soft” coronavirus quarantine in Perth, where they had only been allowed to venture out of their hotel for training sessions due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand.

“We were really committed on the park,” Foster told reporters. “The attitude and the commitment to run and scramble I thought was outstanding.” It kick-started a lengthy stretch away from home for the All Blacks, who are set to be on the road for the next 14 weeks.

They will play in the remainder of the Rugby Championship, which this match counted towards, in Australia’s Queensland state before overseas stints in the US and Europe.

“It’s a tour like no other and to start off with 3-0 (in the Bledisloe Cup) is special and we were open about achieving that,” Foster said.