All Blacks produce fightback win over Wallabies

DUNEDIN (AFP): The All Blacks surged back from a 14-point deficit to beat Australia 23-20 in Dunedin on Saturday and maintain their winning form ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Trailing 17-3 at halftime, New Zealand responded with two unanswered tries in the second half and a 79th minute penalty to Richie Mo’unga to run down opponents they’d beaten 38-7 in Melbourne last week.

Both All Blacks tries went to debutants, winger Shaun Stevenson and flanker Samipeni Finau, as they put an error-prone first half behind them and sealed victory when flyhalf Mo’unga landed his angled penalty shot from 35m out.

It was a heartbreaking result but an encouraging performance from the Wallabies, who remain winless under Eddie Jones since he returned this year for his second stint in charge.

A vastly inexperienced side, led by new captain Tate McDermott, crossed for two tries in the first seven minutes and threatened to produce a first win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil since 2001.

But an All Blacks side featuring 12 starting chances held their nerve to make it four wins from four this year and extend their unbeaten streak to 11 Tests.

It was their patchiest performance of the year, with greater cohesion achieved in the second half when experienced halves Mo’unga and Aaron Smith were introduced off the bench.