England referee Luke Pearce has received his RUCK grade following New Zealand's emphatic 43-21 victory over Australia in Sydney.

The All Blacks ran in seven tries to complete another Bledisloe Cup clean sweep, extending their winning streak against the Wallabies to 13 matches.

However, the contest was not without controversy.

Pearce found himself at the centre of several major decisions, including two yellow cards and a lengthy TMO review involving All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard.

His performance also sparked a strong reaction among rugby supporters, with some suggesting the English official is among the best referees in the world.

So, how did he perform?

Luke Pearce's biggest decisions

The first major talking point arrived in the 31st minute.

Australia lock Jeremy Williams was shown a yellow card for deliberately straying offside to stop a dangerous New Zealand attack.

The Wallabies had just reduced the deficit, but the All Blacks immediately took advantage.

Wallace Sititi scored from the resulting scrum, extending New Zealand's lead.

It was a significant decision, although Pearce had identified a cynical infringement that prevented a promising attacking opportunity.

Another controversial moment arrived in the second half.

Wallabies fly-half Declan Meredith appeared set to score after breaking through the New Zealand defence.

However, Cam Roigard produced a desperate intervention as Meredith attempted to ground the ball.

As detailed in ABC's match coverage, the officials reviewed whether Roigard had illegally kicked the ball from the Australian player's hands.

After discussing the incident with TMO Marius van der Westhuizen, Pearce ruled there had been no deliberate kicking action.

The decision stood, denying Australia a try.

Interestingly, All Blacks coach Dave Rennie agreed with the outcome but raised concerns about the TMO review process.

He questioned the time taken to review incidents and suggested the issue could be discussed at an upcoming World Rugby meeting.

Pearce was again called into action late in the contest.

All Blacks debutant Chay Fihaki made head-on-head contact with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and was shown a yellow card.

It left New Zealand playing the closing stages with just 13 men following an earlier injury.

Fans make feelings clear on Luke Pearce

Despite the controversial moments, Pearce earned considerable praise from supporters watching the match.

One fan, Sardieq, questioned why the English official had not been more prominent recently.

"Anyone know where Luke Pearce has been this year? One of the best in the world," the supporter wrote.

The Rugby Issue offered an even stronger endorsement.

"The best ref in World Rugby, IMO," the account declared.

It also praised Pearce's communication, respectful manner and willingness to make decisive calls.

Not every supporter was entirely satisfied with the officiating team.

Another fan, Wyn, praised Pearce's refereeing but questioned the TMO's contribution.

The comment reflected a distinction made by some viewers between Pearce's performance and the handling of television reviews.

Supporter Steve Lenthall also backed Pearce's decision during the controversial Roigard incident.

Pearce's performance earned praise beyond social media.

In its analysis of the Bledisloe Cup clash, Planet Rugby highlighted his willingness to let the game flow while remaining firm on foul play.

The publication reported that the ball was in play for around 34 and a half minutes during the first half alone.

That helped produce one of the most entertaining Tests of the international season.

HAVE YOUR SAY

How would you grade Luke Pearce's performance in Australia vs New Zealand?

RUCK VERDICT: A

Pearce delivered one of the most assured refereeing performances of the international weekend.

The English official communicated clearly with players, maintained control of a fast-moving contest and remained composed during difficult TMO discussions.

His handling of the Jeremy Williams yellow card was decisive, while the Roigard incident required careful consideration.

The late Fihaki yellow card also demonstrated his willingness to act when foul play occurred.

There will inevitably be debate over individual decisions, particularly the disallowed Meredith try.

However, Pearce's overall game management and communication deserve considerable credit.

It was a notably different reception from the criticism directed at another English official when Karl Dickson was graded following the Springboks' clash with the All Blacks.

The positive response from supporters reinforces the assessment, although fan opinion alone does not determine the grade.