Australia, trailing after the All Blacks scored 17 points in the opening 11 minutes of the second-half, refused to give in as retiring captain John Eales repeatedly tested the New Zealand defence.

Decamped within 15 metres of the All Blacks’ line for the best part of 15 minutes and trailing 26-22, Australia searched desperately for the breakthrough.

The New Zealand defence was obstinate, repelling wave after wave of Australia attack, often forcing the Wallabies backwards only for Eales and Andrew Walker, who was in inspirational form after replacing Matthew Burke on the hour, to maintain the pressure.

New Zealand conceded regular penalties but Eales spurned the opportunity of the three easy points to push for a try that would send him out of the game as unquestionably Australia’s most successful captain.

Still the All Blacks held Australia at bay, often just metres from the line until, less than a minute before the hooter, Matt Cockbain drove towards the posts before handing on to Kefu.

The Queensland Reds loose forward charged through five defenders to touch down with an outstretched arm before being engulfed by jubilant team-mates.

It was a heartbreaking moment for New Zealand who had struggled in the first half, going into the interval 19-6 down, only to surge into the lead in a sensational passage of play.

Pita Alatina had been the key, beating the vain tackles of Stephen Larkham and Chris Latham before off-loading to Doug Howlett for New Zealand’s first try within minutes of the re-start.

Wallaby hooker Rod Moore was then sin-binned before Alatini scored himself after Jonah Lomu evaded three tackles on a typically barnstorming run down the left wing.

New Zealand had been disappointing in the opening period, their line-out was poor, Australia denied them the chance to spin the ball wide and pinched it at the breakdown, with the inimitable George Smith in his element.

Andrew Mehrtens and Matthew Burke swapped early penalties before Larkham imposed his authority on the game to set up a four-phase attack which culminated in a perfectly-weighted crossfield kick over the shoulder of Lomu.

Latham outjumped the giant wing and beat the despairing tackles of both Leon Macdonald and Taine Randall to score.

Again a sin-binning was the key, with Norm Maxwell yellow carded for offside when it appeared the penalty ought to have been reversed for Michael Foley’s punch.

Nevertheless, Australia piled on the pressure and scored 10 points while the All Blacks were short, and it was crucial.

The Wallabies are famed for pulling through when all appears lost and much of that is the influence of Eales, who leaves the game a winner.

Known as 'Nobody' - because 'nobody’s perfect' - Eales guided Australia through a troublesome period in the mid-nineties to glittering success, crowned today by the Wallabies’ second successive Tri-Nations title.