Oh no, not the Kiwis too!

But at least they go down all guns blazing at Ericsson Stadium, as Peter Jessup reports.

No national pall of depression, no crushed nuts after the game, no "Bugger" headlines.

The Kiwis and Kangaroos fought out a brilliant game of football for a two-point result to the visitors in last night's tri-series final, with the video ref being called on to rule on the result in the last second and denying New Zealand a try for a 22-20 outcome.

The Australians were all smiles afterwards, their beaming faces a measure of the effort they had put in to maintain a 46-year test series streak over the Kiwis. Their professionalism and belief in themselves shone as they had two players sinbinned yet the effort never faltering.

The Kiwis measured up in all quarters, and while the All Blacks have just blown away their aura of invincibility, the Kiwis have built enough in this series to suggest the best is yet to come from this side.

National pride was in question, so the crowd of around 23,000 joined the singing of the national anthem. The team had practised that too, and stood to attention clenched fists on hearts as they sang along.

It went all wrong four minutes in, with a wide ball from Henry Paul targeting unmarked Lesley Vainikolo, was tipped by Mat Rogers and regathered, Rogers going 80m to score and the video ref allowing the points.

But the Paul brothers roadshow brought them back, Henry pushing off Bryan Fletcher and getting his ball away to brother Robbie as he fell in Brad Fittler's tackle, and Robbie outpaced Darren Lockyer for a poster and an easy kick for his brother.

The commitment they brought was in the Ericsson Stadium atmosphere, Henry giving his team-mates an earful to keep the momentum going rather than pats on the back as they went back to halfway.

The video ref denied Robbie Paul just three minutes later, ruling he had been tackled short when he believed he had hit the chalk. Ref Russell Smith contemplated a penalty try when Robbie was stripped of the ball as he flew for the line, but after taking advice from touch judges sent fullback Darren Lockyer to the bin for 10 of the last 15 minutes.

The Aussies had a good wind at their backs in the first spell but the kick-chase territory that gave them produced only one more touchdown, for Matthew Johns, after three consecutive sets of six.

A 9-4 penalty count, the last in the last minute of the half, and it was 14-10 at the break and the Kiwis with the wind assistance for the second.

Henry knocked a 40-20 kick downfield in the opening minute to emphasise that, but the Kiwis could not convert three consecutive sets to points. When the Aussies took their share of that sort of possession Wendell Sailor, then Matt Johns, were held up over the line before Rogers crossed again out wide.

When Darren Britt was sinbinned for interfering in the play-the-ball, Henry Paul kept his perfect kicking record intact and it was 18-16 with 14m to go.

With 8m to go, Big Joe Vagana took in multiple tacklers before delivering the perfect pass to cousin Nigel Vagana for the try that gave them the lead for the first time.

Wendell Sailor put the Kangaroos back in the lead with another in the corner after a break from half Kimmorley, who organised well for the Aussies and made two try-savers on big forwards.

Captain Richie Barnett played a real leader's game, making the high takes and kick returns that mattered to lift his side. The props were all hard work, Richard Swain made lots of dummy-half metres, Lesley Vainikolo terrorised the Australians.

Both attacks showed great skills, the defence across the park was awesome from both sides, the intensity a credit to both.

Why would you want to watch rugby union?

New Zealand (Henry Paul, Nigel Vagana tries; Henry Paul con, 5 pen) Australian (Mat Rogers 2, Matthew Johns, Wendell Sailor tries; Rogers 2 con, pen). Halftime: 14-10.