#all-blacks

#all-blacks

If it's the hope that kills you then Wallabies fans have been dying a slow death for 39 years at Eden Park, the venue for this Saturday's first Test of the Bledisloe Cup. The Auckland venue is the All Blacks' fortress. They have not lost there since 1994 and are unbeaten across 51 Tests (49 wins, two draws). No Australian team has won at Eden Park since the 1986 side led by Andrew Slack and coached by Alan Jones.

Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at half-time before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of the night, the Springboks rallied with second-half tries to Malcolm Marx and Cobus Reinach to pull within a converted try but the All Blacks held on, with Ardie Savea making a heroic turnover in his 100th test to seal the win.

The utility back with the Hamilton-based Chiefs was one of four uncapped players included in Scott Robertson's Championship squad.