This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
Published on August 10, 2019, Australia's stunning 47-26 upset over a shell-shocked New Zealand side reduced to 14 men in a pulsating Rugby Championship clash gave them a major confidence boost ahead of the World Cup.
The All Blacks were widely tipped to retain a stranglehold over their trans-Tasman rivals in Perth, but a red card for Scott Barrett in the dying seconds of the first half for a dangerous shoulder charge made it an uphill battle.
Barrett was only the fourth All Black ever to be sent off, with Sonny Bill Williams the last, against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
Despite struggling with ill discipline, giving away three penalties in the opening stanza, all converted by Christian Lealiifano, Australia dominated possession and territory.
Even before Barrett was sent packing, the All Blacks struggled to recover from the early setbacks, with the Wallabies pressing their advantage with two early tries to rock the All Blacks' confidence and keep alive their hopes of getting their hands back on the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
The win is a huge boost for Australian coach Michael Cheika with his gamble in changing up the back-line paying off. A livewire Reece Hodge was a handful, James O'Connor, in his first start in six years, slotted in seamlessly and Lealiifano was his usual calm presence.
It gave Australia their first back-to-back victories in the Rugby Championship since 2016.
