Flanker Sam Cane produced an outstanding show to help All Blacks extend their unbeaten run over Australia in New Zealand to 16 games with a 41-33 victory in their third and final Bledisloe Cup clash in Dunedin yesterday.
Coach Steve Hansen’s side have not lost a test at home since 2009, a run that now extends to 30 successive matches, while the Wallabies remained winless against the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2001.
The All Blacks have also now won 29 of their last 31 matches since the beginning of the 2011 World Cup and despite the closeness of the score, the home side were just too good for the visitors.
They scored three brilliant first-half tries through Julian Savea, Cane and Aaron Cruden.
The Wallabies provided plenty of endeavour but their first-half scoring was restricted to three Quade Cooper penalties and a drop goal before Adam Ashley-Cooper crossed for a 40th-minute converted try to reduce the gap to 30-19 at the break.
But the All Blacks swung back into attack and captain Kieran Read crossed to give the home side a 38-26 lead midway through the second half.
Beauden Barrett added a penalty before Kuri-drani scored a late try for the Wallabies, who had improved after the break but the result had been put out of doubt with Read’s try.