ABs' winning streak comes to dramatic end

Jerome Kaino couldn't stop New Zealand's long unbeaten run ending in Hong Kong last night. Photo / Getty Images

For a dead rubber, there was ample bounce in Bledisloe IV. Too much for the All Blacks, they lost their unbeaten record in what was the most gripping finale to a test in many years.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man - stand up James O'Connor. The man who turned his back on New Zealand, scored the winning try and then had the nerve to land the conversion. That was huge and the agony can finally end for Australia.

The All Blacks can kiss goodbye to their world record of consecutive victories. Their defence in those final minutes was colossal but after stopping the first wave, they failed to kick the ball out and Isaia Toeava missed Kurtley Beale. Given a second opportunity, the Wallabies took it, O'Connor the man on the end of the line after the ball was recycled a ludicrous number of times.

In a way, it's kind of a blessing the Wallabies stole it in the end. They would have gone mad if they hadn't. They were good. Very good at times and probably should have been further out of sight earlier in the game.

The All Blacks didn't look match fit. They were sluggish and struggled to get their hands on the ball in the first 25 minutes. The Wallabies, smarting and desperate, were slick, dominant and 12-0 up.

But such is their mental vulnerability these days, they couldn't nail the coffin lid shut. After Adam Ashley-Cooper ghosted 40 metres through the All Blacks midfield, the All Blacks were a fat duck, in the hunter's sights.

When Beale latched onto a hack through two minutes later, there should have been a loud quack and an explosion of feathers. Instead, the All Blacks scrambled back, somehow closed down the threat and even that earlyin the game, it felt like the tide would then turn.

Which it did. Jerome Kaino suddenly popped up everywhere crunching some impressive physical yards and the speed of the recycle improved.

Kieran Read took control, his big legs propelling him past defenders and Keven Mealamu stuck in, going ever lower into the contact, the ball always safely presented.

The Wallaby scrum was a mess and just as they had thoughts of reaching the break with a handy lead, they were 17-12 down after tries to Jimmy Cowan and Cory Jane.

Then on the buzzer Dan Carter, who never quite looked fully fit, landed a long range penalty from a tough angle.

Matt Giteau could have taken that kick 20 times and not gone close. It seemed like the players were already aware of the problem. Will Genia was always looking to tap kickable penalties and it was hard to tell whether the rationale for that was the need to go all out for the win, or because they lacked faith in Giteau.

If it started out as a bit of both, the emphasis quickly swung towards the former. Giteau just can't sink the big ones, or the little ones for that matter and the Wallabies are crazy letting him anywhere near the kicking duties.

They also have a dilemma with Quade Cooper. The Reds first five gives them so much creativity and sparkle and he was poised and tricky on the ball last night, mixing his game well. But he can't tackle. He really can't tackle and Ma'a Nonu went for him. And Nonu went through him. And over him any number of times.

Nonu was so important to the All Blacks. He bust the big holes; and got the All Blacks properly behind the defence.

But all that wasn't enough. The Wallabies held their nerve for the first time this season. They had believed when they needed it and the All Blacks, couldn't cover the gaps.

New Zealand 24 (J Cowan, C Jane, M Nonu tries; D Carter 3 cons, pen);

Australia 26 (Q Cooper, A Ashley-Cooper, D Mitchell, J O'Connor tries; M Giteau con; O'Connor con).