Australia managed to hold on to a slender lead in the dying minutes of the final Bledisloe Cup clash to claim a 23-18 despite a frantic late onslaught from New Zealand.
It was Reece Hodge who opened the scoring in Brisbane, intercepting Lima Sopoaga’s errand pass on the Wallaby 22-metre line before sprinting the 80 metres required to touch down for a full-length score.
The All Blacks, however, hit back almost immediately. After patient build-up play from the visitors, Aaron Smith threw a miss pass on the five-metre line to find Waisake Naholo on the wing — who gladly ran in unopposed.
Australia were able to hold on to a slender lead given by Marika Koroibete’s second-half score at Brisbabe’s Suncorp Stadium
The lead was cut to just two points with 10 minutes to go courtesy of Rieko Ioane’s score, but the conversion was missed
A huge boot from Reece Hodge put the hosts in a comfortable position and they managed to see out the tie for the win
As the first half drew on, the All Blacks opened the gap through the boot of Sopoaga, but it was the hosts who struck the crucial blow before the break.
Israel Folau came from deep to execute a textbook backs move and power through the All Blacks’ defensive line just before the break to bring Australia to within a point at 13-12.
The second half began just as vibrantly as the first ended: quick offloads, counter-rucking and lightning defensive line speed.
There was a growing sense that the next score was crucial — and it was the Wallabies who seized the initiative once more.
After captain Michael Hooper turned down two chances to take the easy points — opting for the corner — Michael Cheika’s side needed to make their pressure and territory count: cue Marika Koroibete.
The rugby league convert was found after the Australians spread wide from a lineout and the wing powered over from close range to widen the margin to seven points.
But when Rieko Ioane is involved, there can be no rest for the opposition.
A sumptuous offload from Sonny Bill Williams found the Kiwi speedster on the wing and a quick step and fend was enough to see off the covering Sean McMahon.
Ioane pinned his ears back and crossed the whitewash with just 10 minutes to go, leaving New Zealand trailing by two points — but the extras, crucially, were not added by Damian McKenzie.
Wallabies boss Michael Cheika takes a stroll on the pitch ahead of the final Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand
Reece Hodge opened the scoring in Brisbane when he intercepted a Lima Sopoaga pass on his 22-metre line to sprint home
The Wallabies celebrate after Hodge’s opening try gives the hosts the advantage at the start of the third and final Test
Waisake Naholo then hit straight back seven minutes later after some patient build-up play from Steve Hansen’s side
The All Blacks wing crosses the line to gain parity and wrestle back the initiative from Australia within a quarter of an hour
Aaron Smith runs to Naholo to celebrate after his 14th-minute try gives Sopoaga the opportunity to the level the match
Australia No 8 Sean McMahon is brought to the ground as he looks to mount an attack for the hosts at the Suncorp Stadium
But Hodge, who took over kicking duties from Foley when the All Blacks gave away a penalty inside the Wallabies half, stepped up to lengthen the breathing space.
The win put his boot to a 53-metre kick which went sailing between the uprights to see the hosts extend their lead to 23-18 and put minds at ease.
Despite a late siege from the world’s No 1 Test side, the guile and power of the All Blacks was nullified in the dying minutes and Australia held on to the lead to claim the solitary Bledisloe Cup win.
Steve Hansen’s side had already put in the hard yards in the first two Test matches to ensure the Cup would be theirs for the 15th consecutive year and cement their place as the most vaunted side in world rugby.
Full-back Israel Folau gets the ball smashed out of his hands during a crunching tackle by All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty
Naholo gets hauled to the ground by Australia’s Kurtley Beale during a quick-pace first half at the Brisbane venue
Hodge drifts in defence as All Blacks full-back Damian McKenzie tries to architect a chance for the visitors
Following a couple of penalties from the boot of Sopoaga, Folau drags them within a point by going over for the Wallabies
A well-worked move with the ball going through the backs’ hands is finished off by the 15 just before the half-time whistle
The second half began as vibrantly as the first as Beale looks to escape the clutches of All Blacks No 9 Smith
There was a lengthy stoppage as Australia lock Rob Simmons is carried off on a stretcher after a knock to his head
Smith lets his half-back partner Sopoaga know which move he hopes to produce from the base of the All Blacks scrum
But Marika Koroibete then powered over after the break after the Wallabies spread a set-piece from close range
The rugby league convert was found after the Australians spread wide from a lineout and widened the margin to seven points
The prolific Rieko Ioane then gave the hosts a fright when he went over with 10 minutes to go but the conversion was missed