Bledisloe Cup Test 1: All Blacks vs Wallabies
New Zealand 50 – 19 Australia
Bledisloe Cup Test 1 | Eden Park, Auckland | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Half-time: 17-14
Tries: New Zealand: Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa'i, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan. Damian McKenzie 6 conversions, 1 penalty. Australia: Tom Wright, Harry Wilson, Josh Nasser. Ryan Lonergan 2 conversions.
The Wallabies started well and led 7-0 through Tom Wright's early try. The All Blacks responded with tries from Peter Lakai, after Jordie Barrett claimed a Cam Roigard box kick, and Tupou Vaa'i to lead 14-7 after 17 minutes. Ryan Lonergan missed a penalty for Australia and McKenzie kicked one for New Zealand to make it 17-7, before captain Harry Wilson scored just before the break to keep the Wallabies within three at 17-14.
The second half belonged to New Zealand. Roigard scored soon after the restart, Codie Taylor added another near the posts, and Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Will Jordan finished the job in the final quarter. Josh Nasser scored a late consolation try for Australia, and a Pasilio Tosi try was ruled out after a TMO review. The All Blacks won the second half 33-5, and the numbers tell the story: 161 carries to 109 and 12 line breaks to 5.
Context: It was Les Kiss's first defeat as Wallabies coach and Codie Taylor's second Test as All Blacks captain. Damian McKenzie, making his first start at fly-half this year, kicked 15 points. Len Ikitau left the field in the first half after failing a head injury assessment. The All Blacks have now held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003, remain unbeaten at Eden Park since 1994, and the Wallabies' wait for a win at the ground stretches to 40 years. Wilson said afterwards: "Tonight was probably a step back for us as we didn't win those big moments. We'll review hard and come back a lot better next week." The second Test is in Sydney on Saturday October 17.
LIPPY'S VIEW
The Wallabies made small mistakes at crucial times that took away their momentum and attacking pressure. Contestable kicks were the difference and the source of the All Blacks' ascendancy.
Jordie Barrett was in another world: an absolute leader. Harry Wilson played an amazing captain's game, making 27 tackles.
Once the Wallabies went to the bench, the drop-off was palpable, and the All Blacks turned it up another notch. The best way to describe the All Blacks from just after the 50-minute mark is relentless: an onslaught of attacking brutality and the perfect match of skill, pace and physicality, running the Wallabies off their feet. The All Blacks had around 90% of the possession for more than 10 minutes in the third quarter. They were deliberate about running the ball from anywhere instead of kicking away possession, and when they did kick, they made sure they could compete to get the ball back. They embraced the pressure, never retreated into their shell, and kept playing with optimism.
It was so good to see all three Barrett brothers playing so well. Peter Lakai was absolutely world class at No. 7. I'm not sure how you pick a player of the match from Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Quinn Tupaea and Will Jordan. The whole team put their hands up. They won't be happy with their lineouts, but there was so much progress in other areas, and the lineouts are very fixable.
It was sad to see Leroy Carter go off with a serious-looking injury after scoring a fantastic try. The All Blacks' injuries continue, but their depth is saving them. Anton Segner also took a knock late in the game; it is sad that every time he gets a chance, he gets injured.
Will Jordan was mercurial, scoring on the buzzer for his ninth try of the year. It is now 40 years since the Wallabies last won at Eden Park. An absolute fortress for the All Blacks.
NPC Quarterfinals
Canterbury 62 – 26 Waikato
Sunday October 11. Hooker Brodie McAlister scored a hat-trick and Canterbury won all 14 of their lineout throws.
Northland 26 – 21 Tasman
Friday October 9. No. 8 Terrell Peita's 51st-minute try gave Northland a lead they never lost, and a historic home semifinal.
Otago 50 – 14 Hawke's Bay
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. Otago led 24-7 at half-time. Cam Millar marked his 50th game for Otago with 13 points.
Taranaki 50 – 31 North Harbour
Saturday October 10. Captain Bradley Slater scored a hat-trick of maul tries as Taranaki ran in five unanswered tries after half-time.
Three of the four home sides went through, with North Harbour the exception. Taranaki, who finished fifth, won away from home after trailing for almost the entire first half. The semifinals are Canterbury vs Taranaki and Northland vs Otago, with Northland hosting.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Northland vs Tasman
Nearly a close finish, with Tasman getting within five points to give Northland a scare.
Otago vs Hawke's Bay
Watch Lucas Casey at No. 7 for Otago: a future All Black after the next World Cup? The empty seats were a concern, though, with a crowd of just over 5,000 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
North Harbour vs Taranaki
A very tight first half, with Taranaki taking a 17-14 lead at the end of it. Taranaki have made a late surge this season, knocking over the top sides. They put their foot down up front in the second half, and North Harbour fell off the pace. Harbour scored a few late tries to bring the score to 50-31, but the game was over by the 65th minute.
English Premiership: Round 3
Northampton 71 – 48 Bath
Saturday October 10, Franklin's Gardens. Eleven tries to seven in a 119-point game. Bath led 29-26 at half-time. Ollie Sleightholme scored a hat-trick.
Leicester 38 – 31 Gloucester
Friday October 9. Leicester hand Gloucester their first defeat of the season. Gloucester take two bonus points and stay top.
Saracens 30 – 7 Bristol
Saturday October 10. Saracens bounce back from last week's home loss and end Bristol's unbeaten start.
Exeter 34 – 28 Newcastle
Sunday October 11. Exeter's first Premiership win of the season, despite a Christian Wade hat-trick for Newcastle.
Sale 28 – 24 Harlequins
Sunday October 11. Sale win with a 73rd-minute penalty try. Marcus Smith scored twice in the first quarter as Harlequins led 17-14 at half-time.
Northampton's 71-48 win over Bath was the second-highest-scoring game in Premiership history at 119 points, behind only Northampton's 94-33 win over Bristol last May. The defending champions trailed 29-26 at half-time before pulling away with 45 second-half points. Gloucester stay top on 12 points despite losing at Leicester, and only three points separate the top seven. Harlequins have lost all three games and sit bottom.
| Premiership After Round 3 | P | W | D | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gloucester | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +62 | 4 | 12 |
| 2. Northampton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +41 | 3 | 11 |
| 3. Saracens | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +21 | 3 | 11 |
| 4. Leicester | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +10 | 3 | 11 |
| 5. Bath | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 | 11 |
| 6. Bristol | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 2 | 10 |
| 7. Sale | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 1 | 9 |
| 8. Exeter | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -21 | 4 | 8 |
| 9. Newcastle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -44 | 4 | 4 |
| 10. Harlequins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -68 | 2 | 2 |
Full table. Three rounds played of 18.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Northampton vs Bath
Tommy Freeman was mercurial. It was an absolutely brilliant running and attacking game, with two teams so well matched: Bath led 29-26 at half-time, and Northampton scored two tries while Josh Bayliss was in the sin bin. Twenty-two-year-old former England U20 Arthur Green, at No. 8 for Bath, is a find, with two tries in a great performance. He faded a little in the second half, with Northampton having the lion's share of possession.
In the 59th minute, Northampton turned defense into remarkable attack: they soaked up tremendous pressure, then turned the ball over and scored on the other side of the field. Ollie Sleightholme had his hat-trick by the 63rd minute and was playing like a man against boys. Alex Coles played like a world-class international second row and was like an extra back rower. With 110 points scored by the 67th minute, Northampton were on another level in the second half; given space and time, nobody can compete with them. What a spectacle of world-class attacking rugby.
It will be interesting to see whether Steve Borthwick takes advantage of this for England. The issue may be that over-indexing on attacking rugby will expose the national team when defense is the main differentiator in the biggest games, especially against South Africa, France and the All Blacks. But it is really fun to watch and great for the sport as a spectacle.
Leicester vs Gloucester
An excellent game, and Gloucester did really well to climb back into it and come away with a losing bonus point.
United Rugby Championship: Round 3
Bulls 57 – 15 Lions
Saturday October 10, Loftus Versfeld. Nine tries to two. Cameron Hanekom scored twice and was player of the match.
Stormers 39 – 22 Sharks
Saturday October 10. The Stormers take a bonus-point win in the South African derby and end the Sharks' unbeaten start.
Edinburgh 29 – 12 Zebre
Saturday October 10, Parma. A bonus-point win puts Edinburgh top of the URC with three wins from three.
Glasgow Warriors 36 – 19 Connacht
Friday October 9. Glasgow's bonus-point win moves them up to second.
Leinster 29 – 5 Cardiff Rugby
Saturday October 10. Leinster's first win of the season: five tries in front of a sold-out 20,035 at the redeveloped Laya Arena. Sam Prendergast was player of the match.
Ulster 26 – 26 Munster
Saturday October 10, Belfast. Munster led 26-5 at half-time. Ulster scored three second-half tries, with Stuart McCloskey's 77th-minute try and the conversion tying it.
Ospreys 38 – 31 Dragons
Friday October 9, Rodney Parade. The Ospreys' first win of the season, scoring six tries to four in a Welsh derby thriller.
Scarlets 27 – 26 Benetton
Saturday October 10. The Scarlets edge Benetton by a single point.
Edinburgh are the only unbeaten side after three rounds and lead on 14 points, one ahead of Glasgow. The Bulls and Stormers both took bonus-point wins in the South African derbies. Leinster finally got off the mark at their new home, while Munster threw away a 21-point half-time lead in Belfast but stay level on points with eighth-placed Dragons.
| URC After Round 3 (Top 8 of 16) | P | W | D | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Edinburgh | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +26 | 2 | 14 |
| 2. Glasgow Warriors | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +23 | 3 | 13 |
| 3. Bulls | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +72 | 3 | 11 |
| 4. Stormers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +27 | 3 | 11 |
| 5. Sharks | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +6 | 2 | 10 |
| 6. Cardiff Rugby | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -5 | 1 | 9 |
| 7. Lions | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -25 | 1 | 9 |
| 8. Dragons | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 3 | 9 |
Top 8 of 16 shown. Munster are ninth, also on 9 points. Three rounds played of 18.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Stormers vs Sharks
It was like a Springbok trial: lots of Springboks and plenty of Test caps on the field, in front of a big crowd. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse were absolute class. The Stormers were totally dominant, with absolute control up front, and won comfortably in Cape Town.
Glasgow vs Connacht
A big Connacht comeback in the second half, with two tries from Josh Ioane closing the gap to 26-19, but Glasgow then ran away with it.
Ospreys vs Dragons
Back and forth, with lots of maul tries. Not pretty on the eye, but competitive.
Leinster vs Cardiff
Cardiff scored a really great try: Callum Sheedy set up as if to kick for touch but instead put up a pinpoint cross-kick for Mason Grady to score on the wing. But it was not enough against an international-looking Leinster, with Sam Prendergast taking control of the game with a very impressive display.
Ulster vs Munster
A rollercoaster match. Munster looked like a new team after their struggles last year. Ulster looked done, but came back in the 77th minute to tie the game. Another draw for Ulster.
The Irish Teams
Even though it is still early in the season, it is notable that there are no Irish teams in the top 8. Time will tell if this is a blip.
Top 14: Round 6
Toulouse 45 – 34 Bayonne
Sunday October 11. Seven tries to four, including two for Antoine Dupont. The bonus-point win puts Toulouse back on top of the Top 14.
Pau 35 – 26 Castres
Saturday October 10. Pau make it five wins from six and stay second.
Bordeaux-Begles 23 – 22 Clermont
Saturday October 10. Bordeaux win by a point away from home to climb to third.
La Rochelle 28 – 16 Lyon
Saturday October 10. La Rochelle win away. Lyon have lost three in a row.
Stade Francais 30 – 22 Montpellier
Saturday October 10. Stade Francais move into the top eight.
Toulon 29 – 15 Racing 92
Saturday October 10. Toulon's second win of the season.
Perpignan 21 – 12 Vannes
Saturday October 10. Vannes remain winless after six rounds.
Toulouse and Pau have pulled clear at the top with five wins from six. Bordeaux and La Rochelle both won away from home to move into the top four, while Bayonne's loss in Toulouse drops them to fifth. Lyon, who won their first three games, have now lost three straight and sit eighth.
| Top 14 After Round 6 (Top 8 of 14) | P | W | D | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Toulouse | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +73 | 4 | 24 |
| 2. Pau | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | +58 | 2 | 22 |
| 3. Bordeaux-Begles | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | +64 | 3 | 19 |
| 4. La Rochelle | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | +9 | 2 | 18 |
| 5. Bayonne | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -24 | 1 | 17 |
| 6. Stade Francais | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -11 | 2 | 14 |
| 7. Montpellier | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | +41 | 2 | 14 |
| 8. Lyon | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -9 | 2 | 14 |
Top 8 of 14 shown. Six rounds played of 26.
LIPPY'S VIEW
All I can say about the Top 14 is... Dupont, Dupont, Dupont!!!!! Absolute class, getting better and back to his otherworldly best.
Around the Grounds
Rennie and Taylor on Jordie Barrett: All Blacks coach Dave Rennie singled out Jordie Barrett after Eden Park, saying: "He's been phenomenal all year. I just think he's taken his game to another level. It's not just the skill set but he's got a massive engine." Barrett played through a hematoma and was replaced with around 10 minutes left. Captain Codie Taylor went further: "He could probably have a six, seven or eight on his back and he wouldn't look out of place."
The 119-point debate: Northampton's 71-48 win over Bath sparked questions about whether defense is being left behind in the Premiership. Northampton coach Phil Dowson was happy with 71 but said the team "are going to go after 48 as well," naming the breakdown, contact and kick chase as problem areas. He linked the try-fest to law changes and teams choosing to counter-attack instead of kicking for territory, but drew a line: "We don't want it to be 99-88. It's not basketball, I get that." Bath's Johann van Graan was "very disappointed to concede 71 points away from home" and said Bath must adapt "better than the other nine teams in terms of stopping the flow of it."
Shaun Edwards and Mario Ledesma join the Pumas: Argentina have added defense guru Shaun Edwards, whose defenses won Grand Slams with Wales and France, to Felipe Contepomi's coaching staff through the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Former Pumas head coach Mario Ledesma also returns as forwards coach. Edwards starts at the end of October, ahead of the Pumas' Nations Championship opener against Ireland in Dublin on November 6. Contepomi said both men "know what it means to compete at the highest level."
Leinster come home: Leinster played their first game at the redeveloped Laya Arena, the old RDS, in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,035, and marked the occasion with a five-try bonus-point win over Cardiff, their first win of the season.
Looking Ahead
October 17: Bledisloe Cup Test 2 | Wallabies vs All Blacks, Sydney.
NPC Semifinals: Canterbury vs Taranaki; Northland vs Otago.
Premiership and URC: Round 4.
Top 14 Round 7: Begins October 24.
November 6: Nations Championship resumes, opening with Ireland vs Argentina in Dublin.