Last-gasp scores clinch it for Australia

Australia 20 New Zealand 15

Australia scored twice in the final six minutes to stun New Zealand in the second Test of the 2006 Tri-Nations at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

The Kangaroos looked beaten as a Stacey Jones drop goal put the Kiwis 15-8 ahead with eight minutes remaining but late tries from Greg Inglis and Mark Gasnier proved the difference.

Two tries from Iosia Soliola and one from Shontayne Hape had given the Kiwis, looking to avenge last week's loss, the edge but Inglis kept the Kangaroos in contention with the first of his two scores. Johnathan Thurston landed all three conversions and a penalty.

The Australians now have a week off before taking on Great Britain in a fortnight, while champions New Zealand will need to quickly regroup ahead of next week's home encounter with the Lions.

New Zealand dominated the early exchanges and Jones twice tested Inglis under the high ball.

The youngster took the first of them only to see a penalty to go against the hosts for a shepherd and he spilled the second.

David Kidwell was then held up over the line but the Kiwis maintained possession and moments later Bradford three-quarter Hape powered over despite Inglis and Thurston's best efforts.

Jones' attempted conversion sailed wide but moments later Kiwi skipper Ruben Wiki put down Kangaroos full-back Karmichael Hunt with a huge hit, although the visitors failed to capitalise when Kidwell knocked on.

Matt King twice looked to have scored for the Kangaroos, only for the video referee to rule that he had been put into touch just before going over, and Soliola also blew a great chance as he shaped to dive over.

The momentum eventually swung in the final minutes of the half as Kidwell bulldozed within 10 metres of the Australian line only to knock on, and the Kiwis' misery was compounded by a penalty.

The Kangaroos broke through in the 36th minute when Darren Lockyer fed Inglis and he fended off Jones before finding a hole and sprinting 30 metres to score. Thurston's tough conversion put his side 6-4 up at the break.

Australia twice looked set to score soon after the restart, only for Justin Hodges and later Luke O'Donnell to lose possession, and it was the Kiwis who scored first thanks to Jones.

The wily veteran found a hole and then received support from Brent Webb before getting involved again to feed Simon Mannering. The loose forward fired a miracle ball to Soliola under pressure and he reached out to score.

Down 8-6 after Jones again missed the conversion, back-to-back penalties in the 56th minute gave Thurston a simple shot from 25 metres almost straight in front. His attempt dropped over after hitting the left upright to tie the scores at 8-8.

The deadlock was finally broken 14 minutes from time when Soliola picked up a loose ball after it was dropped by Hape in a tackle and raced 10 metres to score, with Jones' conversion making it 14-8.

A knock-on moments later gave the Kangaroos a chance and they looked to have scored through Hunt but the video ref ruled an obstruction against an Australian player as Lockyer fired the ball to Hunt.

Jones then gave the Kiwis more breathing space with his drop goal but Lockyer again fed Inglis and he raced 60 metres to score under the posts as the Aussies responded late on.

The Kiwis were then left shattered in the final two minutes when the Kangaroos, with their tails up, scored again after Hunt fed Gasnier to beat two would-be tacklers.