All Blacks clinch thrilling comeback victory

Mils Muliaina and Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks celebrate victory. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks collected their record 10th successive win against the Wallabies in Sydney last night but there was nothing automatic about this 23-22 victory.

It took all the All Blacks resolve to retrieve the result after they trailed heavily going into the last quarter. But converted tries to captain Richie McCaw and looseforward colleague Kieran Read against a tiring Wallaby team claimed the victory and an unbeaten run in this season's Tri-Nations campaign.

They were made the work extra hard by a Wallaby side which had a little extra snap while the All Blacks looked less cohesive with the five changes in their side.

The test began at a cracking pace and in the early exchanges the All Blacks looked as though they had picked up the rhythm of other matches in this year's Tri-Nations campaign.

Ma'a Nonu and Mils Muliaina were both stopped within a metre of the tryline while the All Blacks dodged a bullet when the television match official ruled out a try to Lachie Turner because he cut the touchline.

All that and an injury exit for hooker Keven Mealamu with a recurrence of his calf injury, occured in a frenetic 10 minutes to start this third clash between the two sides this season.

The All Blacks appeared to have the heat on the Wallaby scrum but from one the hosts managed to keep stable, they scored.

No 8 Ben McCalman broke down the shortside, beat Victor Vito's tackle and passed to James O'Connor who had an uninterrupted canter to the tryline.

There were a few other anxious moments with Kurtley Beale using his deception and speed to beat Conrad Smith several times on the outside, but the cover defence held.

Wallaby kicker Matt Giteau could only goal half his six attempts otherwise the hosts advantage would have been far greater than the 14-6 lead they held at halftime.

That advantage was increased when an ambitious All Black foray out of their 22 was halted and they turned the ball over.

The Wallabies worked the ball in several phases before spreading it to Adam Ashley-Cooper in space down his favoured left flank where he beat three tacklers to the line.

Giteau missed another conversion but a Kurtley Beale penalty soon after had the Wallabies out to a 22-9 lead with the finaL quarter of the game left.

The All Blacks then wound up the pace and pressure while the Wallabies attempted to slow the tide by using their reserves but could not hold the visitors' finishing power.

All Blacks 23 ( R McCaw, K Read, tries; P Weepu 3 pen, 2 con
Australia 22 (J O'Connor, A Ashley-Cooper, tries; M Giteau 3 pen, K Beale pen
Halftime: 14-6 Australia

- NZ HERALD STAFF