KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - The Wallabies ended a five-match losing streak against the All Blacks to officially stamp themselves as World Cup contenders, winning the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup rugby test 20-15 on Saturday.
Before a crowd of 79,322 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Wallabies gave the visitors a big wakeup call with two tries in nine minutes late in the match after they trailed 6-15 at halftime.
The second, by replacement Scott Staniforth set up by man of the match Stirling Mortlock, gave the Wallabies the lead in the 72nd minute and the All Blacks couldn't conjure a late miracle.
The turning point came when All Blacks strongman Carl Hayman, who led an early scrum demolition, was sinbinned by South African referee Marius Jonker in the 62nd minute after they were warned for repeated infringing. The All Blacks lost their composure with crucial errors and the hosts sensed an upset.
It was the Wallabies' first win over the All Blacks since their 23-18 victory in Sydney in 2004.
The result left the Tri-Nations competition wide open at the halfway point, with one win apiece for South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Wallabies fullback Julian Huxley handed the All Blacks instant momentum when his kickoff flew out on the full.
The All Blacks went straight on attack and scored the opening try in just the fourth minute when prop Tony Woodcock finished a series of drives at the line with a helpful shove from Daniel Carter, who converted.
The Wallabies had more first half possession but rarely threatened the All Blacks' line, both sides struggling for continuity with the greasy ball after evening drizzle.
The All Blacks scrum quickly asserted its dominance but it was a largely shambolic area, with Jonker penalising both sides for several collapses.
Carter and Mortlock exchanged penalties before Hayman was penalised at a scrum by Jonker and Mortlock narrowed it to 10-6 after 20 minutes.
The All Blacks made a better fist of their chances and raced to a 15-6 lead via a Rico Gear try when Jerry Collins, a dominant presence on attack and defence, took a quick tap, the ball was recycled to Luke McAlister who brushed off George Gregan and fed Gear out wide.
Gear could have a had a second five minutes before the break but Rodney So'oialo fumbled a Byron Kelleher pass 30m out with the right winger unmarked.
The All Blacks couldn't put the Wallabies away in the third quarter, Carter busting the line twice but and out-of-sorts Mauger fumbled on the second occasion with the tryline in sight.
Captain Richie McCaw was warned by Jonker about his team's repeated infringing and the test turned when Hayman was binned for 10 minutes lying on the tackled player.
The Wallabies struck immediately, scoring their first try to recalled wing Adam Ashley-Cooper who latched onto a Nathan Sharpe cut out pass and shrugged off Gear, McCaw and Chris Jack to dive over.
Matt Giteau, deputising for Mortlock who suffered a heavy head knock, converted from the left-hand touch and it was a thrilling two-point game with 15 minutes left.
Carter missed a chance to extend the lead with a 35m penalty then the jubilant Wallabies hit the front, Mortlock carving through McAlister's attempted tackle and sending Staniforth over under the posts eight minutes from time.
McCaw insisted the result wouldn't put a big dent in their World Cup hopes.
"It's a reality check but there's a lot of rugby left this year," he said.
Mortlock said the massive crowd, which also included thousands of All Blacks supporters, lifted his team in the final 20 minutes.
"It was a great effort, a long time coming for us and we've been close a number of times.
"A great crowd, they really got behind us and brought us home."
Australia 20 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Scott Staniforth tries; Stirling Mortlock 2 pen; Matt Giteau 2 con) New Zealand 15 (Tony Woodcock, Rico Gear tries; Daniel Carter pen, con). Halftime: 6-15.
- NZPA
