Australia 26 - 24 New Zealand: James O'Connor holds his nerve to end New Zealand's 15-match win run

O'Connor's nerveless kick minutes after the siren sounded also brought an end to New Zealand's 15-Test winning sequence and denied them the chance of exceeding the current record of 17 consecutive first-class Test wins shared by the All Blacks and South Africa. That was a landmark they would have had the chance to achieve against Scotland at Murrayfield a week on Saturday, had they won yesterday and beaten England this coming Saturday.

"I still can't believe it, it's a pretty surreal moment," O'Connor said in a pitchside interview. "It's a dream come true."

Australia looked to have blown their chance of beating the All Blacks for the first time since 2008 when their early lead was snuffed out in front of a disappointingly low crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium.

The Wallabies grabbed a 12-0 advantage through a try from fly-half Quade Cooper and a brilliant solo effort from Adam Ashley-Cooper, who smashed through the All Blacks centres at halfway and dummied Cory Jane to touch down under the posts.

New Zealand kept their composure, however, and converted tries from scrum-half Jimmy Cowan and winger Jane had them back in front after 33 minutes before fly-half Dan Carter added a penalty to put them 17-12 ahead at the break.

New Zealand, who had already secured the Bledisloe Cup, further extended their lead with a typically clinical try from centre Ma'a Nonu after 54 minutes.

Australia, who lost 23-22 in their last Test against New Zealand, were not yet beaten and Drew Mitchell powered down the line to score in the corner after Kurtley Beale broke when Conrad Smith lost his footing just past the hour mark.

Mitchell's score left the Wallabies needing a converted try to win and, after Carter's replacement Stephen Donald had missed a penalty which would have sealed victory for the All Blacks, Australia laid siege to the New Zealand line before O'Connor cut between two defenders and touched down to tie the scores, giving him his chance of a kick for glory.

"It was disappointing, we had a chance to close out the game but they put us under pressure and we didn't manage to do it," said All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.

"It was just one of those days (but] when you have a bad day at the office you just have to get straight back on the horse."

Scorers: Australia: Tries: Quade Cooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor; Conversions: Matt Giteau, O'Connor (2). New Zealand: Tries: Jimmy Cowan, Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu; Conversions: Dan Carter (3) Penalties: Carter.

Australia: Beale; O'Connor, Ashley-Cooper, Giteau, Mitchell; Cooper, Genia; Robinson, Moore, Alexander, Chisholm, Sharpe, Elsom, Pocock, McCalman. Replacements: S.Faingaa, Slipper, Mumm, Brown, Burgess, Barnes, Turner.

New Zealand: Muliaina; Jane, Smith, Nonu, Rokocoko; Carter, Cowan; Woodcock, Mealamu, O. Franks, Thorn, Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Elliot, Afoa, Whitelock, Braid, Mathewson, Donald, Toeava.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).