New Zealand wins again but Aussies close the gap

Joe Rokocoko crosses the line for a try. Chris McGrath / Getty Images

Australia 9 All Blacks 13

The Wallabies went to extraordinary lengths to nullify the effect of the haka last night and, more importantly, went to similar lengths to nullify the All Blacks.

In a performance that's likely to provide the bedrock for further Australian gains before next year's Holy Grail, John Connolly's Australia made up for a glaring deficiency in their scrum by employing a stifling defence and a superior lineout to knock the All Blacks off their stride.

In the end, only desperate All Blacks defence and a lack of polish on attack prevented the Wallabies from knocking over the All Blacks for the first time since Sydney 2004.

With the haka thrust into the spotlight (again), the Australian reaction to Kapa O Pango was eagerly awaited.

As it happened, the All Blacks threw a dummy and went with Ka Mate. But that didn't stop the Wallabies launching into a pre-determined training session complete with tackle bags and trainers after the haka.

The Wallabies were looking to take the fire out of the All Blacks' bellies but you wonder where they'll go from here - a blackboard session on the 40m line perhaps?

Australia included massive 23-year-old Rodney 'Rodzilla' Blake in their lineout to counter the combined prowess of Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Carl Hayman. He talked of declaring World War III at the first scrum but it was more like the Six-Second War - one that ended in another convincing All Black victory

There was concern in the Wallaby camp that the behemoth was being set up for a fall. If picking the two-test novice was meant to signal the fact that Australia were going to go shoulder-to-shoulder with New Zealand in the scrum, then Blake has become the world's first 130kg red herring.

Australia had no intention of drawing themselves into a scrum battle, Blake or not.

The All Blacks reportedly sourced another 130kg-plus monster from the depths of Brisbane club rugby to practice against, more evidence of this camp's attention to detail rather than any genuine fear of the damage Blake could inflict on what is generally considered the world's best front row.

The Wallabies were twisted like a corkscrew in the first scrum and only skilful work from Scott Fava saw possession retained.

More indication of the way the Wallabies intend to play through to the World Cup could be gained from analysing the selection of specialist No 8 Fava. So often out of fava, as selectors have tried to squeeze the duel talents of Phil Waugh and George Smith into the same back row, Connolly appears to be coming around to the 30-year-old's charms.

As a genuine No 8, Fava is more adept at supplying George Gregan with uninterrupted ball behind a struggling tight five but even Buck Shelford would have struggled to cope with some of the ball he was asked to process as the All Blacks' scrum knuckled down to its work.

Other than the haka, the set pieces dominated the headlines in the build-up to the test.

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones made the interesting observation during the week that both sides were more comfortable on the other side's throw than their own. Certainly the All Black lineout wobbled badly against the Boks in Wellington and the Wallabies struggled in the opening Tri Nations match at Christchurch, so there was merit in his appraisal.

Both sides made a solid start, New Zealand securing several takes deep in their own 22m. Late in the half, the Wallabies filched a throw destined for Chris Jack and Mealamu infringed at the resulting breakdown for the Wallabies' second set of three points.

However, in the second half the All Blacks lineout became a lottery as Australia challenged for possession on every throw.

The Wallabies' first points came from a lineout drive after Jerry Collins had needlessly given away a penalty at both ends of Suncorp Stadium.

Collins endured a sloppy start to the test but made amends with a decent pass under pressure from which Joe Rokocoko extracted full value. That might not be the 'highlight' Collins appears in the most from this test, however, as the cameras appeared to catch him making a grab for Smith's dreadlocks.

Another Carter penalty followed a break from the first five-eighth - straight through the tackles of Stirling Mortlock and Nathan Sharpe - that made you question whether the Wallabies had taken heed of their own dictum not let the Cantabrian enjoy any space.

That was quickly rectified and the rest of the first half was played with both defences so tight on the advantage line, they could discern the subtle tones of each other's aftershave.

It took until the 50-minute mark had been passed before Australia's vaunted backline made a clean break, Mortlock embarrassing Aaron Mauger and Mils Muliaina with a dummy.

Muliaina had been painted as a possible weak link in the All Blacks' defence, due mainly to his lack of international experience in the position rather than a lack of courage or commitment, and Australia attacked his channel frequently but for the most part he did not buckle.

Carter added a drop goal and Mortlock replied with a penalty, so even though you were left with the distinct impression the All Blacks were a better side, Australia faced a deficit of only four points with a quarter of the match remaining. It proved too big a bridge, but they're closing the gap.

Australia 9 (S. Mortlock 3 pens),
New Zealand 13 (J. Rokocoko try; D. Carter pen con dg).
HT: 6-10.