Australia put a dent in New Zealand's World Cup aspirations with a defiant comeback win in their Tri-Nations match today.
The Wallabies scored 14 unanswered points after the interval at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to beat their Trans-Tasman rivals for the first time in six attempts since 2004.
The All Blacks had seemed destined for a big win when tries from prop Tony Woodcock and winger Rico Gear gave the visitors a 15-6 lead at the break.
They took the lead with their first concerted attack of the game after just three minutes.
Full-back Mils Muliaina burst through and was stopped short of the line before Woodcock collected the ball and barged over with the TV match official confirming the prop's first try in his 31st test. Fly-half Dan Carter converted from the angle.
Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock struck two penalties either side of a Carter effort to make it 10-6 before the All Blacks again cut loose.
Centre Luke McAlister rode one tackle to put Gear into the corner to make it 15-6 at half time.
The Wallabies resumed with a good spell of pressure as prop Guy Shepherdson was penalised for holding on to the ball a yard short of the line.
Scrum-half George Gregan then hobbled off after 55 minutes, taking his world record tally of Tests to 128.
All Black prop Carl Hayman was sin-binned for an infringement at the breakdown and Australia took immediate advantage.
Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper rode tackles from Richie McCaw and Chris Jack to touch home on the left and make it 15-11. Matt Giteau converted from a tight angle.
Carter then missed a penalty before substitute Scott Staniforth bagged Australia's second try nine minutes from time, collecting the ball after another great break from Mortlock and sliding home under the posts.
Giteau converted to make it 20-15 leaving all three sides in the competition, which also includes South Africa, with a win.
