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Australia have ensure the Bledisloe Cup in 2015 will have a decider at Eden Park, with the Wallabies defeating the All Blacks 27-19 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
In a tough, attritional first half, neither side really gained the ascendency, or any fluency.
Both sides would have gone into the sheds at half time thinking they left plenty of points out there.
The score was 6-3 to New Zealand, but both Australia and the All Blacks had threatening attacking raids in their opposition’s half.
RELIVE THE ACTION FROM BLEDISLOE 1 WITH THE ROAR’S LIVE BLOG
Australia will feel they should have scored after Israel Folau opened up the All Blacks close to their line. It all came to nothing, however, with a knock on crushing any chance of a try.
Similarly, New Zealand finished the first half with a great attacking opportunity, but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard.
Sekope Kepu scored the first try of the match, crashing over early in the second half after some promising build-up play. With Aaron Smith in the sin bin, Kepu put on some footwork to get through a gap and score under the sticks.
Debutant Nehe Milner-Skudder managed to respond for the All Blacks after Ben Smith created a try from what seemed like a well-marked play. Smith managed to somehow find a way through, making Australia pay almost immediately after they lost Nick Phipps to some ill-discipline following a quick tap.
Dan Carter’s missed conversion meant the All Blacks led 14-10 with 25 minutes to play.
A stunning try to Adam Ashley-Cooper had the Wallabies in front five minutes later, after a precision grubber from Matt Toomua found his winger steaming onto it.
This had the Wallabies leading by three with 20 minutes to play.
After a dour first half, the game had well and truly come alive when Milner-Skudder was adjudged to have gone in for his second try in the right hand corner, with a well-worked scrum move catching the Wallabies off guard.
With 15 minutes remaining, there was plenty of life left in both teams with New Zealand ahead by two points.
A long-range penalty saw Australia take the lead by a point, and around the 70-minute mark was their time to capitalise.
A long, well-constructed set of phases saw the Wallabies come away with seven crucial points courtesy of a try and conversion to replacement half Nic White.
All the Wallabies had to do was hold out the All Blacks final charge, which they managed, and the game was theirs, 27-19.
It was a thrilling second half, making up for a slow and steady first half.
The win means Australia win the Rugby Championship in a World Cup year again, and the Bledisloe Cup comes down to one game on New Zealand soil.
New Zealand will worry about the strength of the Wallabies’ finishing, while Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be delighted with the contribution of his replacements, as well as the breakdown and general play work of David Pocock and Michael Hooper.
What did you make of the game Roarers?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.