Fact or fiction? The All Blacks always strike before and after halftime

All Blacks prop Joe Moody scores early into the second half against the Wallabies. Photo / Brett Phibbs

"The All Blacks always strike just before and after halftime".

Obviously that's not true but it's an often trotted out line when it happens as it did on Saturday night against the Wallabies.

Beauden Barrett scored two minutes before the break at Eden Park while Joe Moody kicked off the second half with a try three minutes in during the side's 40-12 thrashing.

It was the second straight week the All Blacks scored on both sides of halftime with Aaron Smith and Jack Goodhue crossing over in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney.

Looking back on the All Blacks' record since the 2015 World Cup, they've played 33 tests and have scored both five minutes before halftime and five minutes after the break on six occasions.

So doing it on both sides of halftime is not so common but striking either side of halftime is certainly a habit.

Since the start of the 2016 season the All Blacks have either scored just before (35th minute on) halftime or just after (up to and including the 45th minute) in 19 of their 33 tests.

On 15 occasions they've scored just before halftime and in 10 tests shortly after the break.

In total the All Blacks have scored 27 tries between the 35th and the 45th minute in their last 33 tests, while conceding just six.

Interesting to note, five of the six tries conceded by the All Blacks have come before the break. Just once in their last 33 tests they've conceded shortly after halftime.

If Michael Cheika is looking for somewhere to improve against the All Blacks, he's probably got a long list already, but his side have struggled between the 35 and 45 minute marks.

In their last eight meetings the All Blacks have scored eight tries between the 35th and the 45th minute marks, outscoring the Wallabies 54-8. Israel Folau scored Australia's only try in that period in the team's 23-18 win in Brisbane last year.