Tri-nations/ Australia 20 New Zealand 15: Australia coach John Connolly has warned his players not to get carried away by their surprise win over New Zealand in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Wallabies produced one of their best second-half performances in years to overturn a nine-point deficit and beat New Zealand 20-15 in front of nearly 80,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The win gave Australia a much-needed confidence boost heading into the World Cup but came at a high price, three key players suffering injuries.
Number eight Wycliffe Palu aggravated a shoulder problem in colliding with New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins. Hooker Stephen Moore hurt his sternum and scrumhalf George Gregan injured a leg.
David Lyons has been added to the squad to replace Palu. And Moore has been replaced by Sean Hardman for Australia's next match, against South Africa in Sydney next Saturday.
Connolly said the win was proof his team were improving after three lean seasons but would count for nothing if they did not continue to get better.
"Any win against the All Blacks is a great win . . . But let's not get too carried away - we certainly won't within the Wallabies camp. This is still a one-off win. There is still much work to do," Connolly wrote in the Sun-Herald.
Connolly said the Wallabies had benefited from New Zealand's failure to capitalise on all of their scoring opportunities.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry said the defeat could prove a blessing in disguise as they build toward the World Cup.
"Obviously we're disappointed in the result, but it could be a very good thing in a couple of respects," Henry said.
"This will make us rethink what we're doing and hopefully it will be character building and motivational for us. . . We just didn't take a few opportunities and got opened up a few times.
"Hopefully we'll look back on this game as a very important game for us . . . It's better to lose now than lose in October."
The All Blacks took the lead with their first concerted attack, after just three minutes. Fullback Mils Muliaina was stopped short of the line before Woodcock collected the ball and barged over, the TV match official confirming the prop's first try in his 31st test. Outhalf Dan Carter converted.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock struck two penalties either side of a Carter effort before the Kiwis again cut loose.
Centre Luke McAlister rode a tackle to put Gear into the corner, making it 15-6 at half-time.
Gregan then hobbled off after 55 minutes of his final Test on home soil, taking his world record tally of Tests to 128.
All Black prop Carl Hayman was sinbinned for an infringement at the breakdown and Australia took immediate advantage.
Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper rode tackles from Richie McCaw and Chris Jack to touch home on the left. Matt Giteau converted from a tight angle.
Scott Staniforth bagged Australia's second try nine minutes from time, sliding under the posts after a great break from Mortlock.Giteau converted.
AUSTRALIA: Huxley; Ashley-Cooper, Mortlock (capt), Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson; Sharpe, Vickerman; Elsom, Smith, Palu. Replacements: Freier, Baxter, Chisholm, Hoiles, Waugh, Staniforth, Gerrard.
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Gear, McAlister, Mauger, Rokocoko; Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman; Jack, Flavell; Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo. Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Filipo, Masoe, Weepu, Sivivatu, Evans.
