New Zealand 23-20 Australia: All Blacks fight back for win in World Cup warm-up

Richie Mo'unga's precocious punishment gave New Zealand the victory

New Zealand staged a melodramatic comeback to bushed Australia 23-20 successful their last location Test earlier the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand bushed the Wallabies 38-17 successful Melbourne past week to triumph their 3rd Rugby Championship successful a row.

Former England caput manager Eddie Jones has inactive to triumph a crippled since taking complaint of Australia.

The All Blacks' 22-year winning streak against the Wallabies connected location ungraded was successful peril aft the visitors dominated aboriginal astatine Forsyth Barr Stadium.

But tries for debutants Shaun Stevenson and Samipeni Finau enabled New Zealand to tempest backmost into the game, earlier Mo'unga sealed a 2-0 Bledisloe Cup bid triumph with a well-taken footwear from a choky angle.

It was an agonising decorativeness for Australia, coming aft they were beaten 38-7 by the All Blacks successful Melbourne a week ago.

"Yeah, perfectly gutted," said Australia skipper Tate McDermott. "Obviously not blessed with it, but from wherever we were past week to wherever we are present a monolithic measurement up. A immense improvement."

New Zealand skipper Sam Cane conceded the All Blacks had been pushed to the limit.

"That was a due Test match," helium said. "They were firing each the shots successful the archetypal half, to beryllium fair, we were conscionable hanging successful there. They took it to america successful a large way."

The visitors made a flying start, scoring 2 tries successful the archetypal 7 minutes to instrumentality a 14-0 lead.

Quick hands enactment Marika Koroibete crossed successful the 3rd infinitesimal and Tom Hooper barged implicit astatine the aforesaid near country aft flattening Damian McKenzie successful a thunderous run.

Both teams had aboriginal casualties; Queensland Reds hooker Matt Faessler making his Test debut for Australia erstwhile Dave Porecki came disconnected for a caput wounded assessment.

New Zealand mislaid Brodie Retallick with an evident genu occupation successful the 26th minute, but their aged defender stepped up successful his absence, with Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea combining to prevention a effort erstwhile stand-in skipper McDermott made a dart for the close corner.

The hosts fought backmost with Stevenson going implicit astatine the close country 4 minutes aft the restart.

A Mo'unga punishment trimmed the shortage to 4 points, earlier Finau's effort enactment the All Blacks ahead.

Australia's Quade Cooper drilled a long-range to level the people astatine 20-20.

But with 3 minutes left, Cooper knocked the shot connected to springiness New Zealand the scrum.

They dominated the set-piece to triumph punishment advantage, allowing Mo'unga the accidental for his winning kick.

New Zealand person present won each 4 of their Tests this play against Argentina, South Africa and Australia (twice).

The Wallabies, who appointed erstwhile England caput manager Jones successful January, person mislaid each 4 against the aforesaid teams but volition instrumentality immoderate bosom from their show connected Saturday.

The Rugby World Cup starts connected 8 September erstwhile hosts France look New Zealand.

Line-ups

New Zealand: Jordan, Stevenson, Ennor, Lienert-Brown, Fainga'anuku, McKenzie, Christie, Savea, Cane (capt), Finau, Whitelock, Retallick, Laulala, Taukei'aho, Williams.

Replacements: Coles, Tuungafasi, Newell, Vaa'i, Jacobson, Smith, Mo'unga, McLeod.

Australia: Kellaway, Nawaqanitawase, Petaia, Kerevi, Koroibete, Gordon, McDermott (capt), Valetini, Hooper, McReight, Arnold, Frost, Fa'amausili, Porecki ,Bell.

Replacements: Faessler, Slipper, Nonggorr, Skelton, Leota, White, Cooper, Perese.

Referee: Karl Dickson

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