Australia head coach Eddie Jones was giving it the big talk ahead of Saturday's meeting with New Zealand in Melbourne, as the Wallabies sought to get their first win of this year's Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, travelled to Australia seeking to complete a near-perfect championship, having claimed previous victories over Argentina (with a bonus point) and South Africa.
Despite the big talk from Jones ahead of kick-off, it would turn out to be an ugly day for Australia.
New Zealand got off to a rip-roaring start with a bizarre try in the opening stages, though Australia, to their credit, bounced back quickly and responded with a try of their own to lead 7-5. That would be their last score of the game.
Ultimately, the All Blacks ran out 38-7 winners in a crushing show of superiority on their rivals' home soil, and it now leaves Australia going into the World Cup with the memory of their heavy defeat to their neighbours in their most recent competitive game.
They have lost every game they have played since former England coach Eddie Jones took over in charge - and former England player Andy Goode was among those to slam not only Jones, but the decision to sack his predecessor Dave Rennie.
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Australia v New Zealand: Ex-England international rips into Eddie Jones
This time last year, Australia faced off with New Zealand in Melbourne, and the game was decided by a last gasp All Blacks try tipping the scoreline in their favour by 39 points to 37.
In 2023, the outlook is dramatically different. New Zealand almost matched their 39 point total, but the Wallabies could only manage 7, showing their regression in the last 12 months compared to their fiercest rivals.
The major change in the team in that period has been the removal of Dave Rennie as head coach and his replacement Eddie Jones' arrival.
After the massive defeat to New Zealand on Saturday, questions will be asked of that decision. Andy Goode, who won 17 caps for England during his playing career, took to Twitter to do just as much in the aftermath of the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday. Goode said;
Eddie Jones has taken the Wallabies backwards quicker than I used to run to the buffet! Whoever sacked Dave Rennie at Australian Rugby needs sacking for being inept at their job! #EddieOut
Eddie Jones has taken the Wallabies backwards quicker than I used to run to the buffet! Whoever sacked Dave Rennie at Australian Rugby needs sacking for being inept at their job! #EddieOut
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) July 29, 2023
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Jones will now have a job on his hands to get the morale of this Australia team up ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup in September.
Luckily for the Australians, they have avoided most of the biggest contenders for the crown, with France, Ireland, South Africa, and their old rivals New Zealand all on the other side of the draw. However, the likes of Georgia and Fiji in their group may be thinking similarly positive thoughts about facing Australia, based on their current form.
The Wallabies finished bottom of the Rugby Championship table, with second place to be decided by the meeting of South Africa and Argentina later on Saturday.
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