Australia held New Zealand to a 12-12 draw in their Rugby Championship opener yesterday to prevent the All Blacks from claiming a world record 18th consecutive win.

In a gritty encounter played out in a Sydney rainstorm, Australia benefited from yellow cards shown to All Blacks Wyatt Crockett and Beauden Barrett either side of the break.

They tied the match up with flyhalf Kurtley Beale’s fourth penalty 10 minutes from time after Barrett was sin-binned but were unable to secure a first victory over the All Blacks for three years.

New Zealand continue to share the record of 17 consecutive wins by a top tier nation with the 1965-69 All Blacks and South Africa side of 1997-98.

Other result: South Africa vs Argentina 13-6.

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