New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia 19-14 in their Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The All Blacks came from 14-9 down at half-time to keep the Wallabies scoreless in the second period and take the four-game Bledisloe Cup series 3-1.
In a match that failed to live up to expectations, players from both sides had trouble adapting to the slippery surface, while the large crowd became increasingly frustrated with decisions from Irish referee Alan Lewis.
Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw scored tries for the All Blacks, while winger Drew Mitchell crossed twice for the Wallabies.
The New Zealand and Australian rugby unions brought the game to Hong Kong to try to promote the sport, but while both teams tried hard throughout, their lack of recent internationals was obvious.
Australia started brightly and struck in the seventh minute when flyhalf Matt Giteau charged at the line and somehow slipped an inside ball to Mitchell, who touched down under the posts for a converted try.
All Blacks centre Dan Carter booted two penalties to close the gap to 7-6, but the Wallabies came charging back and Mitchell, only in the team because Lote Tuqiri was injured, crossed for his second five-pointer.
Carter closed the gap when he kicked a superb penalty from 52m out and the two teams went into the break with the Wallabies ahead 14-9.
The All Blacks came out firing in the second half and levelled the scores when Sivivatu crossed out wide two minutes after the restart.
The All Blacks then began a period of domination as their superior forward pack began to assert control, but somehow the Wallabies managed to keep them out.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry then replaced Stephen Donald with Ma’a Nonu and put Carter in at flyhalf, and the All Blacks immediately looked more dangerous.
They hit the front for the first time with 15 minutes to go when Richie McCaw scrambled over in the corner for a 19-14 lead, and then held on for the win. — Reuters