Wallabies beat New Zealand

Australia 23 New Zealand 18

Australia defeated New Zealand 23-18 in Sydney to keep the Tri-Nations wide open.

Lote Tuqiri scored the only try of a scrappy game in the second half after Ali Williams had been sent to the sin bin.

The result leaves the Antipodean rivals all square on nine points from three Tests and both having to face South Africa, who have two points from two games, in the remaining fixtures.

The All Blacks knew that victory at the Telstra Stadium and a bonus point would have been sufficient for a third consecutive Tri-Nations title.

But it was the first defeat for Graham Henry since he took the reins of the New Zealand side.

Tuqiri’s try was the difference between the two teams with all the other points coming from six penalties for each side.

The try came after 47 minutes when Tuqiri broke over the line after a sweeping move that featured George Gregan prominently.

The teams had been locked 12-12 at the break after the Wallabies had recovered from trailing 9-0 following three penalties from Dan Carter.

Matt Giteau’s kicking kept the hosts alive in the first half and they picked up the tempo in the second for a deserved victory.

Tuqiri could have finished with a hat-trick but was also held up over the line once in each half.

The introduction of the Andrew Mehrtens at the expense of Carlos Spencer could not overhaul the difference and, although Australia’s defence was stretched in the final stages with Doug Howlett held up in the dying moments, they held on.