Rugby: First half cost ABs the game

Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks is tackled by Rob Simmons and David Pocock of the Wallabies. Photo / Getty Images

Australia 25 New Zealand 20

If there is a consolation for the All Blacks to find in defeat, it is that the team that wins the Tri Nations has never won the World Cup.

The All Blacks will have to cling to that this morning, convince themselves that defeat so close to the tournament is in fact a good thing. At least it will stop them from being complacent. It will give them an edge and a real reminder that Australia are the real deal.

The Wallabies can play and at one stage were in real danger of blowing the All Blacks out of the water.

That was until the All Blacks emerged from halftime and the switch was flicked and from being disorganised to the point of being chaotic, the All Blacks took control. It was Richie McCaw who led the way, driving tighter and more dynamically in the close exchanges. The ball retention was suddenly excellent and the patience that had been missing was in full view.

Ali Williams and Victor Vito - sent out early from the bench to cover injuries to Kieran Read and Adam Thomson - made favourable impressions.

Piri Weepu took an infuriating age to dig the ball out of the back of static rucks, organising the forwards and getting bodies back behind the ball. It was the right call - the drives were effective and relentless and when the All Blacks were able to deliver quick release, the backs managed to pounce.

Dan Carter set the first try up by charging into the line and then off-loading to Conrad Smith. Ma'a Nonu was the next beneficiary as he and Smith exchanged passes to create a giant overlap for the second five to plough through.

Nonu was invaluable, his strength and energy taking the All Blacks over the gainline. He was the key momentum builder and Sonny Bill Williams will be confined to yet more time on the bench or in the stands.

And someone needed to be a hero because the All Blacks were miles off the pace in the first half.

Flat wouldn't really get to the nub of things. The All Blacks were lethargic, devoid of drive and accuracy. For a team that wanted to play pass and catch rugby, they hampered their chances by neglecting the catch.

Without the basics in place to underpin everything, the performance drifted. It lacked conviction and the Wallabies obviously sensed it. They kept the ball moving through the hands and vast acres of green space appeared before them.

Quade Cooper, spooked by his own shadow the last time these sides met, had the run of the place. On his home turf, he was the governor again. The All Blacks were desperate to clobber him, tie him up in knots again and post him back to purgatory. But they flapped and fussed, cuddled him and squeezed him as if he was a new born. It was hard how to see they could have made things more welcoming.

Defensively, the first 40 minutes were among the worst of the last decade. Radike Samo, admittedly a bruising athlete who loves a canter, was making unfeasible mileage with ball in hand. He had a couple of decent runs leading into his spectacular try where he brushed off Adam Thomson with embarrassing ease before setting off on a 60 metre charge that was one of the better sights for some time.

The big man's bouffant cut an incredible dash as he smoked across the turf, neither Mils Muliaina nor Dan Carter chasing with any real hope.

That score left them 20-3 down and in serious trouble. Zac Guildford was having a horrible game and the Wallabies were targeting him with high balls. Sam Whitelock had been forced to the blindside and for the first time since 2009, the All Blacks looked exposed and vulnerable. The Wallabies delivered the physicality they had been threatening and having had rest and recovery, there was an obvious zip and confidence about their work.

Will Genia was magnificent and he pumped up the high balls, sniped round the fringes and tormented the All Blacks. It was his break in the second half, when the All Blacks were in danger of blasting them off the park with their pick and drive, that opened the hole for Kurtley Beale.

Australia 25 (W. Genia, K. Beale, R. Samo, K. Beale tries; Q. Cooper con, pens)

New Zealand 20 (C. Smith, M. Nonu tries; D. Carter 2 cons, 2 pens).