Chris Rattue: Brave Kiwis have right to feel bitterly disappointed

History called but the Kiwis failed to answer, again, last night.

In a stirring test which further suggested that international league is on the rise, Australia and coach Wayne Bennett found a perfect reply to the pressure they had been under after losing the Tri-Nations opener in Sydney.

Not that it was a telephone numbers victory, as cocky Aussie pundits like the great coach Phil Gould had predicted. Gould was at least 28 points shy in his pick, as Australia fended off a late Kiwi charge to win by two.

Former Aussie forward Mark Geyer had suggested it might be a 50-point smashing of the Kiwis, but this is certainly not the first blowout that has emerged from the Geyer mouth. Gould is infinitely more credible so there will still be the eating of some words across the Tasman.

The biggest call of last night came at halftime from the Kiwis' exuberant assistant coach, Graeme Norton, who, buoyed by a 16-8 lead, told the television audience that should victory arrive, it would set this team on the path to becoming the greatest in Kiwi history.

As if there wasn't already enough rain at Ericsson Stadium, the Aussies responded by sending down another bucket load or two on Norton's parade.

The Australians did all the talking for the next 10 minutes - with their football. A three-try burst started by Mark Gasnier, a lead of 24-20, and that feeling of inevitably which usually accompanies the sight of the men in green and gold returned.

It was Australian magnificence, under the weight of historical pressure, rather than Kiwi munificence, which tipped the match the visitors' way.

The Kiwis were brave, superbly aggressive in defence in the first half, and at times clever - you'd go a long way to see a better flick pass under pressure than Paul Whatuira's for a Jake Webster try.

But this is the test arena, a hard place where there are victors, the vanquished and very little room for sympathy in between.

The disappointment for Kiwi backers and the New Zealand sports public should be immense.

This was the moment to get rid of another league hoodoo. It is 52 years since New Zealand have scored successive wins over Australia in the same year. Their best "run" since came over the 1997/98 seasons, when they won two games in Auckland.

Had the Kiwis won last night, they could contemplate their greatest season since 1971, when Great Britain and France were beaten in series on tour and the Australians smashed at Carlaw Park.

The remarkable facet of Australia's overall test dominance since 1978 is that they often lose the first matches of series, and - as yet - have never failed to put things right.

There was none better in the Kiwis than the warhorse captain Ruben Wiki, who equalled the New Zealand test record of 46 set by Gary Freeman.

But this was not the historical mark which really mattered.

A Tri-Nations victory still beckons the Kiwis but for now, that seems a long way away.