Wallabies shock All Blacks with late tries

Australia 20 New Zealand 15

Australia secured victory despite a disasterous start to their first home match of the Tri-Nations, and the Bedisloe Cup, against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

Prop Tony Woodcock scored his first international try after three minutes following a series of close-in drives at the Wallabies line. The TV official rule that he successfully grounded on the line and Dan Carter duly converted for a 7-0 lead.

Aussie captain Stirling Mortlock missed his first penalty attempt and although he knocked over his second 14 minutes in, Carter cancelled it out with his second kick of the game two minutes later.

More encouraging for the home side, was when the All Blacks scrum was penalised for collapsing on Carl Haymans side. Mortlock drilled over the three-pointer.

Rico Gear had an easy touchdown 26 minutes in after Luke McAlister powered through an attempted tackle by George Gregan.

Mortlock had a chance to put some points on the board before halftime but missed the long-range penalty attempt with just a minute on the clock, so the visitors led 15-6 at the break.

The Wallabies struggled to claw back any points until a Stephen Larkham break into the 22 while Hayman was in the sin-bin for the All Blacks.

When the ball came out to Adam Ashley-Cooper ion the wing he had plenty of work to do but he showed great footwork and leg-strenght to beat tackles by Gear, Richie McCaw, and Chris Jack to score in the corner.

Matt Giteau converted to cut the lead to two-points and 16 minutes left to play.

Then sub Scott Staniforth scored a second Wallabies try to put them in the lead for the first time after another great break by Mortlock, who converted for a 20-15 lead.

It was a pulsating finish then as the Kiwis turned over the ball in injury time and ran through four-phases before Australia won it back for Giteau to kick gleefully to touch and secure the first win against the mighty All Blacks in the World Cup year.