A storming first half for the All Blacks followed by a second half where the Wallabies showed guts and determination and New Zealand fell away.
Overall the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 31-28 in the first game of the 2024 Bledisloe Cup is Sydney, but it was not the second half they wanted as the home side came close to an upset.
New Zealand got off to a great start with fullback Will Jordan slicing through a hole and scoring under the posts in the first 90 seconds of the match.
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Not long later Rieko Ioane made a break down the left touch line to score in the corner and make it 14-0 after 10 minutes.
Powerful wing Caleb Clarke then broke free to dot down in the same corner as New Zealand made it 21-0 after 16 minutes and it looked like 50 points would be on the cards as the All Blacks spun the ball at every opportunity and gaps opened up.
However the Wallabies finally hit back with flanker Fraser McReight breaking free to score under the posts and cut the All Blacks led back to 14.
Sevu Reece then made the most of a late call-up with Beauden Barrettt out sick.
Reece jumped on a turnover to put Ardie Savea over under the posts to restore a 21 point lead.
Hooker Matt Faessler dived from a maul to score a crucial try close halftime to keep the Wallabies in the contest.
Jordie Barrett broke free down the right and scored on halftime, but the try was disallowed as the sides went to the break with the All Blacks ahead 28-14.
Into the second half Faessler was penalised for leaving his feet and Damian McKenzie kicked the penalty for 31-14.
James Slipper came on in the 50th minute for his record breaking 140th Wallabies Test cap, surpassing George Gregan’s long-standing record of 139 and had a big impact.
Hunter Paisami charged over from close range with a dummy and go to cut the lead to 10 with 15 minutes to play as the Wallabies set up an exciting finish.
In the same play the All Blacks lost Anton Lienert-Brown for a 10 minute spell as New Zealand were reduced to 14 men.
The All Blacks lost a second player in Caleb Clarke to a yellow card for knocking the ball down, reducing them to 13 men and giving the Wallabies a chance of success.
However, a try to Len Ikitau was called back for a knock-on, which would have made it a three point game.
Tom Wright threw himself over in the 79th minute to set up a grandstand finish as the Wallabies came back from 28-7 to be within three points.
One major aspect where the All Blacks have struggled this year is scoring in the final 20 minutes of the game.
It was the 45th minute on this occasion and the latest this season has be the 59th.
It's a major issue for the All Blacks particularly after they looked so good early on but let Australia come within a whisker of victory.
All Blacks 31 (Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane. Caleb Clarke, Ardie Savea tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con, pen) Wallabies 28 (Fraser McReight, Matt Faessler, Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright tries 79min; Noah Lolesio 4 con). HT: 28-14.
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