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Beauden Barrett broke Australia hearts with a last-gasp try as New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup by winning a thriller 35-29 at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
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Critics rounded on the Wallabies after they were put to the sword in the first half of the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney last weekend and they responded with a rousing start under the roof in Dunedin.
Israel Folau scored the first try of a chaotic clash inside 30 seconds and Michael Cheika’s men led 17-0 with only 15 minutes played following further scores from captain Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley.
The All Blacks hit back, reducing the deficit to only three points at half-time courtesy of tries from Rieko Ioane – his sixth in as many Tests – and the lively Aaron Smith.
A Barrett try put the world champions in front midway through the second half, but Will Genia went over at the other end and Kurtley Beale looked to have won it with a fifth Australia try three minutes from time after Ben Smith went over in his final Test before taking a sabbatical.
The brilliant Barrett snatched it a minute from time, helping himself to a double to take his tally for the night to 20 points, four missed kicks from Foley proving to be decisive as New Zealand won the Bledisloe Cup for the 15th consecutive year.
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