AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Lock Chris Jack and centre Luke McAlister scored late tries to give New Zealand a 34-27 victory over Australia on Saturday, sealing the All Blacks' seventh Tri-Nations title.
The win ensured the All Blacks head to South Africa for their final two matches with an unassailable six-point lead. Australia have 11 points with one match remaining while South Africa prop up the table with one point.
"We are pleased to have wrapped up the Tri-Nations after four games out of six," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry.
"The boys played exceptional football in the second half after being nine points down and they showed heart and character and played very well."
After Stirling Mortlock and Daniel Carter traded two penalties apiece, Lote Tuqiri grabbed the first of his two tries with an interception and Mortlock's conversion gave the Wallabies a 13-6 lead.
Tuqiri, however, blotted his copybook with what looked like a spear tackle on New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who was the target for some robust play by the Australians at the breakdown.
"I got a bit of a fright," said McCaw of the tackle. "I guess that is what happens when you end up upside down."
"It's nothing I haven't experienced before (but) if you are getting taken out it leaves opportunities for others. My point of view is that you have to try to find opportunities and they did take pretty good care of the ball and made me make tackles.
Neither side were prepared to discuss the possibility of a citing after the incident went unpunished on the field.
Combatative Wallabies
Both sides seemed content to spin the ball at every opportunity, though the All Blacks had problems at the breakdown, where the Australians were more combative.
"I think it was a very physical game across the board," said Wallabies coach John Connolly, who denied his side had set out to target McCaw. "If you're an openside flanker then you're on the ball."
The All Blacks forward dominance was rewarded when a rolling maul from 25 metres out split the Wallabies before lock Jason Eaton dived over the top of the collapsing mass of bodies.
Australia's Rocky Elsom scored a try when television official Wille Roos ruled he had grounded the ball despite suggestions he had lost the ball forward.
"Sometimes that's rugby. It's just the rub of the green," said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.
"The pleasing thing for us is that it didn't take away the player's focus."
The All Blacks, down 20-11 at the break, dominated the second half with Carter slotting two penalties before Jack finished off a sweeping move to give his team the lead for the first time with 17 minutes remaining.
McAlister looked to have sealed the match when he outsprinted the cover from a turnover five minutes later before Tuqiri brought his side back into it when he regathered a clever Matt Giteau kick for the score.
But the All Blacks were able to cement the win when Phil Waugh was sinbinned for an early tackle and Carter slotted his fifth penalty.
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