The ruthless efficiency of the All Blacks defence kept their unbeaten Tri-Nations campaign on track as they withstood relentless pressure to beat the Wallabies 20-10 yesterday.

The All Blacks led 17-10 at half-time and then mounted a rock-solid defensive effort to hold back a barrage of Wallaby attacks before a Dan Carter penalty 10 minutes from time moved them out of the seven-point danger zone.

The two-tries to one performance gave the All Blacks their fourth win from four matches but denied them a bonus point to leave the New Zealanders on the brink of claiming the Tri-Nations crown for the 10th time in 15 years.

But the win did ensure they keep the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of trans-Tasman rivalry and consigned the Robbie Deans-coached Wallabies to a record-equalling ninth successive defeat against the All Blacks.

But the game was not without its frustrations for the Wallabies, desperate to come back from their 49-28 hiding last week, as the All Blacks rode their luck with ruck infringements.

They have been accused by former Australian coach Bob Dwyer of being cheats, while South Africans say they receive favourable treatment from referees and in this Test they twice escaped with warnings but no yellow cards.

On the positive side for the All Blacks, whose focus this year has been on an adventurous attacking policy reaping 17 tries from four Tri-Nations matches, was their stout defence.

Australia could not complain about the amount of possession David Pocock and Rocky Elsom ensured, nor the way their pack cleared the All Blacks out of the ruck, but they were only able to bag one try.

Instead, their multi-phased attacks regularly ended up behind the advantage line yesterday as loose forwards Richie McCaw and Kieran Read led a defensive effort that shut down the gaps.