Australia have now stretched their unwanted run of defeats to the All Blacks to nine, a subservience going back to 2008. Robbie Deans return to Lancaster Park was supposed to add more fuel to the fire but, the Wallabies refused to cough up possession and with New Zealand facing the unfamiliar proposition of 15 opponents for 80 minutes they could not demolish the dogged visitors.
Despite dominating possession and a typical never say die approach. The Aussie's met a black wall at almost every turn. The tackles were unflinching, and with over ten minutes still on the clock the statsmen had counted 118 from the hosts. The Wallabies were visibly running out of ideas, phase after trundling phase bought them little distance.
When the chips were down; 100% Dan Carter Kicking was the difference. His two penalties and conversions added up to give his side the 10 point victory. Tries from Mils Muliaina and Conrad Smith in the first half gave the required lift off but for the two thirds of the game Australia dominated.
Kiwi captain Ritchie McCaw was satisfied with the effort, but his demeanour would suggest he, like the crowd would have preferred more possession and tries.
"We had to do a lot of defending, the guys dug in cos when you haven't got the ball it takes a bit out of you. but we stuck at it and forced critical turnovers"
"Last week was a bit of an open game, perhaps didn't get our flow right even though it didn't show on the scoreboard. Tonight it was a really big game and all the things you work on have to make sure you get them right and winning a test match against Australia you've got to be happy about that."
Australian skipper Rocky Elsom looked to have drained every ounce of energy from his body by the time he reached the post match interview and despite a spirited performance, was gutted to be beaten.
"We came here to win and we didn't do that. I think the effort from the guys was obvious, I'm proud of that and proud of the energy they brought to the game but we were after a win."
"We did well holding the ball but we needed to score points and getting over the line was something that cost us in the end."
Just like last weeks bun-fight, the sides traded early seven pointers. A superb counter attack gave Muliaina his thrilling opening try. That, however, was cancelled out when Australia turned the ball over in their own half. giving Kurtley Beale a 50 metre dash to the line.
This New Zealand outfit consistently looked just minutes away from scoring and after both props earned a talking to for early engagement, the scrum provided the next scoring platform. Two tackles and one phase later, Conrad Smith was at the end of sweeping move. Carter, again the catalyst, refusing to die with the ball and offloading to continue a perfect move.
It took 35 minutes for Jonathan Kaplan to award the hosts a penalty, 45 metres out on the angle, Carter kicked his third goal of the match to cancel out Giteau's 19th minute 3 pointer. And the sides settled for 17-10 at the halfway point.
But the game hung in the balance for the second half, far from the formality expected by the hosts. They could not get hands on the ball. Having benefited from yellow carded opposition in all their games in this years competition; Tony Woodcok was fortunate not to see yellow after he cynically drove into the back of Saia Faingaa trying to get up and walk away from a ruck. Like Michael Corleone, just when Faingaa thought he was out, they drove him back in.
Australia came closest midway through the second period but Adam Ashley Cooper was penalised for holding on just five meters from the line.Both sides were feeling the mileage in their legs but knew with a seven point gap, a maximum score would swing the game in either direction.
Carter's final penalty on 70 minutes put more than one score between the sides. The clock was run down by the gold shirts, relentlessly holding possession, terrified of giving it to a try hungry All Black.
NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Maa Nonu, Joe Rokocoko; Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.
Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Alby Mathewson, Aaron Cruden, Benson Stanley.
AUSTRALIA: Kurtley Beale; James OConnor, Adam Ashley Cooper, Anthony Faingaa, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Saia Faingaa, Salesi Maafu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (captain), David Pocock, Richard Brown.
Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Cameron Shepherd.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).
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