AUSTRALIA

(Aaron Cruden 4 pens). (Kurtley Beale 4 pens). 9-3 (All Blacks). netted only Crockett’s yellow card for a ‘‘cynical’’ ruck infringement with the Wallabies seemingly caught in two minds about taking their points three at a time, or in greater multiples.

McKenzie would have been happy with his forwards’ effort. The scrum was solid, lineout mostly on the money and they were where they needed to be at the breakdown. The New Zealanders had the better of the possession battle for the half, but the home defensive line held firm throughout.

Remarkably, the Wallabies had much the better of the second 40, though disappointingly neither side could find a way through the resolute defensive lines they were up against.

But they would have been rapt to keep the fearsome New Zealanders to just Cruden’s lone second-half penalty and pick up three of their own to level the scores at 12-12 with just 10 minutes remaining.

With Barrett in the bin, the Wallabies looked the most likely to break the deadlock over the run home, and finished the match camped deep in All Black territory.

Barrett came back for the final minute and change and a brief hint of a Dublin escape act was on before the game finished on an error.

Two great defensive plays defined the All Blacks’ second 40 minutes – both off kicked-through ball right on their line. First Dane Coles and then Julian Savea produced faultless efforts to clear extremely dangerous situations. Soon after Savea was nailing another massive tackle to put Pat McCabe into touch.

In the end they saved the draw, rather than salvaged a win. Disappointing. But it could have been so much worse.

Photo: Photosport Up the middle: All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick takes it to the Wallabies during the intense forwards battle that dominated last night’s Bledisloe Cup battle in Sydney.