Wallabies rocked by All Blacks as insane drama stuns rugby world

The Wallabies have squandered their best chance to win a Bledisloe Cup Test in New Zealand for the first time in 22 years after a second half collapse against the All Blacks. The Aussie jumped out to a shock 17-3 lead at halftime but were overrun by New Zealand in the second half to leave Wallabies fans gutted.

Australia started off the match in style, bouncing back from their disappointing loss in last week's opening Bledisloe Cup Test with an early onslaught in Dunedin. With Eddie Jones searching for his first win since taking over as Wallabies coach, the Aussies came out firing in scenes that took the rugby world by shock.

Jones' men were comprehensively beaten by New Zealand at the MCG last weekend, with the 38-7 victory keeping the Bledisloe Cup in the All Blacks possession for a staggering 21st straight year. It was yet another crushing blow for Jones - who remains winless in his first three Tests - and the Wallabies ahead of the Rugby World Cup later in the year.

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However, the Aussies gave their under-fire coach something to cheer about in the first half, albeit against a vastly changed New Zealand side in Dunedin. Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan were the only All Blacks to keep their places in the starting XV as New Zealand made 12 changes to their run-on side.

Winger Marika Koroibete got the ball rolling for the Wallabies in just the third minute, silencing the home crowd as he acrobatically touched down in the left corner. Koroibete just managed to keep his feet and body in play with replays confirming the try for the Aussie flyer.

With the Wallabies chasing their first win against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in 22 years, Aussie fans dared to dream a short time later when Mark Nawaqanitawase and Andrew Kellaway split the home side's defence down the middle, before Tom Hooper capitalised. The lock barged over to help the visitors jump out to a shock 14-0 lead.

Newly appointed Wallabies captain Tate McDermott thought he'd added a third try just before the half hour mark when he scurried from a ruck and dived towards the try line. However, All Blacks star Ardie Savea managed to keep the Aussie scrum-half in an extraordinary try-saving tackle.

New Zealand's only points of a stunning opening forty minutes for Australia came off the boot of Damian McKenzie, as he took advantage of ill-discipline from the visitors to kick a penalty goal for the All Blacks. Carter Gordon responded with a successful penalty shot of his own to re-establish Australia's two-try lead.

Rugby world stunned by Wallabies' fast start

The Aussies dug deep in defence after an inevitable late charge from the hosts but for the first time in four years it was the Wallabies that led the All Blacks at halftime after making it to the break with a 14-point advantage. The incredible scenes left Australian rugby fans beside themselves and New Zealand fans cursing their team's poor first half.

All Blacks hit back in emphatic second half response

New Zealand hit back early in the second half as winger Shaun Stevenson evaded the tackle of tackle of Andrew Kellaway to score on debut. Things were looking ominous for the visitors midway through the second forty when Leicester Fainga'anuku reached out to score a try under the posts, with replays showing he dropped the ball in the motion of scoring.

That would have helped draw New Zealand level but the reprieve didn't last long for Australia as second half substitute Richie Mo'unga cut the deficit to four points by booting a penalty for the hosts. It appeared to be only a matter of time before the All Blacks hit the front for the first time and on 64 minutes flanker Samipeni Finau grabbed his first try to give New Zealand a 20-17 lead.

Quade Cooper fired Australia back onto level terms inside the final 10 minutes after nailing a clutch penalty from halfway that grazed the goal post on its way over. Cooper went from hero to villain moments later when his knock-on gave the All Blacks a scrum inside Australia's half and after earning themselves a penalty from the resultant set-piece, Mo'unga booted the penalty that consigned the Wallabies to a heartbreaking defeat.

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