Richie Mo'unga booted a penalty in the last minute to lift the All Blacks to a 23-20 comeback win over a much-improved Australia in Dunedin on Saturday as the hosts extended their perfect season in the lead-up to the World Cup.
In a test of two halves, the All Blacks' 22-year winning streak against the Wallabies on home soil was in peril after the visitors dominated early at Forsyth Barr Stadium to take a 17-3 lead at halftime.
Tries for debutants Shaun Stevenson and Samipeni Finau, however, saw the All Blacks storm back before Mo'unga sealed the win with a well-taken kick from a tight angle.
Ardie Savea sparked the All Blacks' rally with a try-saving tackle in the first half and proved a force at the break-down throughout.
"It was tough. We got smacked in the first half. I’m proud of the boys’ efforts coming back in the second half and getting the win," the back row enforcer said.
The win was New Zealand's fourth in succession this year and ensured they swept the two-test Bledisloe Cup series against their neighbours, but coach Ian Foster's decision to field a second-string starting side nearly blew up in his face.
Eddie Jones' Australia were led superbly by stand-in captain Tate McDermott, a week after the Wallabies were smashed 38-7 by the same opponents at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Jones was gutted to fall short on Saturday. He was the last coach to guide Australia to victory over the hosts in New Zealand at the old Carisbrook ground in Dunedin in 2001.
The Wallabies are now 0-4 under Jones in his second stint.
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