Rugby: Wallabies will bounce back, vows Deans

All Black replacement Ma'a Nonu scores the only try in last night's Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Wallabies rugby coach Robbie Deans fixed the inquisitor with a steely glare.

"I'm not going to go belly up if that's what you're asking," he said when quizzed about the mounting pressure from Wallabies fans.

Yet again, Deans' Wallabies surrendered a position of strength - a 15-6 lead with 30 minutes remaining - to the fast-finishing All Blacks, who won their fifth consecutive transtasman test 19-18 last night to seal the Bledisloe Cup with two matches to spare.

It followed a familiar script to their last test in Auckland when the Wallabies faded in the final quarter, and gave All Blacks coach Graham Henry a 5-1 lead in the head-to-head contest with Deans.

Deans felt his side - who made it three Tri-Nations defeats from three in 2009 - did not surrender as easily as in previous tests but were still learning composure as they brace for back-to-back home tests against South Africa in the next fortnight.

Wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner hesitated with a Daniel Carter kick deep in their own territory and an Isaac Ross tackle led to Turner being penalised for not releasing, handing Carter his match-winning penalty in the 78th minute.

"The most obvious difference is experience. They're masters at getting home and we're working hard at acquiring that art. We're making headway but we haven't acquired it yet, but I'm pretty confident we will," Deans said.

"The expectations are just as high and the expectations of the group are high. If we continue to add to what we're doing we'll get there.

"I suspect with the amount of pain we're going through right now it'll be a habit we'll want to keep."

First five-eighth Matt Giteau, who kicked six penalties from six attempts as the All Blacks were pinged for several breakdown offences, was also culpable in the dying seconds.

After the Wallabies turned the ball over they had one final attack he opted to spin it wide rather than snap a dropped goal.

The All Blacks defence scrambled and prop Ben Alexander fumbled the final pass before the whistle sounded.

Said Giteau: "I got the call and initially we were looking to spread it wide and thought we had numbers.

"In hindsight I just should have just gone back in the pocket and looked for a field goal. It wasn't until the pass was made that I thought about it."

Deans said second five-eighth Berrick Barnes' second-half absence with a neck injury badly hampered his side and affected their kicking game.

Barnes and teenage fullback James O'Connor (leg) were both cleared of serious injuries.

But there are concerns over returning flanker Rocky Elsom, who has an ankle problem, and lock Nathan Sharpe (shoulder).

The Wallabies travelled to Perth today to prepare for the competition-leading Springboks in Perth next Saturday.

- NZPA