All Blacks v Australia: NZ overcome red card, loss of captain Ardie Savea to complete trans-Tasman sweep

Second-five David Havili has snatched a try double, as the All Blacks completed a sweep of their trans-Tasman rivals, overwhelming Australian 38-21 at Perth.

Playing without veterans Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith, Dane Coles and Richie Mo'unga - all left back in New Zealand - the NZ men also lost new captain Ardie Savea and hooker Codie Taylor with first-half injuries, and played a man short for 20 minutes, after fullback Jordie Barrett was red-carded before halftime.

But this display amply showed the depth available to the All Blacks, with their defence laying a strong platform to launch from.

With less than 50 percent possession and a tackle rate twice that of their rivals, New Zealand scored several of their six tries off defensive pressure that forced turnovers and counter-attacking opportunities from their own territory. 

Australia were unlucky to have a couple of tries disallowed, with Marika Koroibete denied in the opening minutes.

Beauden Barrett slotted two early penalties to put New Zealand on top, then provided a deft grubber kick that produced a try to brother Jordie and a 13-0 lead.

But moments later, Jordie Barrett climbed high to claim a kick and caught Koroibete in the face with his boot as he came down, leaving the Aussie winger writhing on the ground.

Referee Damon Murphy reviewed the incident and sent Barrett from the ground, leaving his team undermanned for 20 minutes, until they could bring on a replacement.

Australia were unable to take advantage of that opportunity and eventually conceded a try to the short-handed All Blacks on the stroke of halftime, when Akira Ioane won an attacking lineout and the forwards mauled to the goal-line.

Somehow Havili popped up in the middle of the pack to touch down, giving his side an 18-0 lead into the break.

Also during that period, Savea and Taylor left the field with head injuries, replaced by Ethan Blackadder and Samisoni Taukei'aho, but the All Blacks barely missed a beat.

Soon after the restart, Damian McKenzie restored New Zealand to their full complement and within seconds, the Wallabies finally found the scoreboard, with hooker Folau Fainga'a powering over.

But any Kiwi doubts were quickly dispelled, when flanker Akira Ioane shrugged off several defenders and sent winger Will Jordan in for a try, then Havili snaffled an intercept on his own line for a length-of-the-field effort.

Australia struck next, when Pete Samu charged off an attacking scrum and found replacement halfback Nic White running an angle to the tryline.

Ioane struck again, deftly putting Anton Lienert-Brown across for a try, before TJ Perenara intercepted another loose Wallabies pass and kicked across field for George Bridge to score.

Fullback Tom Banks had the final say for the homes side, but wayward goal-kicking from Beauden Barrett and McKenzie provided a scoreline that flattered the Aussies.

After two bonus-point victories over their trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand sit atop the Rugby Championship and face Argentina next Sunday, with the Wallabies meeting world champions South Africa, both games on the Gold Coast.

NZ 38 (J Barrett, Jordan, Lienert-Brown, Bridge & Havili 2 tries, B Barrett 2 penalties & conversions) Australia 21 (Fainga'a, Banks & White tries; Lolesio & Hodge 2 conversions)

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