Take a bow Stirling Mortlock, Australia’s Captain Courageous and the player who underlined at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday that if New Zealand are to get their hands on the World Cup, they are going to have to prise it off their Anzac neighbours first. This was too error-ridden to be counted among the classic Bledisloe Cup encounters, but the way the Australians absorbed everything the All Blacks had to throw at them and then came off the ropes to deliver the knockout punch with a Scott Staniforth try eight minutes from time was uplifting.

It was Mortlock who provided most of that uplift, giving not just Australia, but all the other nations living in New Zealand’s shadow, new cause for optimism. By taking an inside line onto Stephen Larkham’s flat pass, Mortlock cut past Luke McAlister, and then used his speed and power to get away from Richie McCaw in a 40m burst.

Not only that, but the big out-side-centre then bowled a sweet overarm delivery off his right hand straight into Staniforth’s path as the cover closed in, leaving the former London Irish wing to score untouched under the post. Matt Giteau’s conversion gave the Wallabies their 20-15 winning margin, and thereafter they ran the clock down by using their forwards to continuously pick-and-drive.

When the Wallabies turned the ball over on the final drive there were last-minute palpitations as the All Blacks came at them again, but when the ball was pinched back and Giteau kicked it into touch their victory celebrations were merited because they had won the second half 14-0.

The pivotal moment of the match had come just after the hour when Carl Hayman, the giant New Zealand tighthead, had been yellow-carded for continuous infringement at the breakdown. Just before Hayman’s temporary dismissal, Larkham, who had been harried to distraction by New Zealand’s rush defence, instructed his forwards to take the game to their All Black counterparts. However, even he would have been delighted by the size of the windfall that Hayman gave the Wallabies, because up until then he had the Australian scrum by the throat.

As a result, Wallaby confidence seemed to have taken a nosedive, and there had been precious little signs before the 60-minute mark that they had the firepower to win this match. Yet within a minute of Hayman heading for the touchline, Australia had scored their first try through left-wing Adam Ash-ley-Cooper. The build-up included two half-breaks by Lote Tuqiri, but there did not appear to be any gaps in the blanket-like New Zealand defence until a pin-point pass by second row Nathan Sharpe found the powerful Ashley-Cooper, who stepped out of Rico Gear’s tackle, ducked under another from McCaw, and then shook off Chris Jack to score in the corner, Giteau’s touchline conversion narrowing New Zealand’s lead to 15-13.

The All Blacks had an opportunity 10 minutes from time to put the skids under the Australian revival, but Dan Carter, who had another forgettable match, pushed a penalty wide, setting the scene for Mortlock’s match-winning late charge.

Australia had deservedly trailed 15-6 at half-time, with New Zealand starting the match in ruthless fashion despite the fatigue factor involved in their round trip from South Africa. An error from the kick-off, when Julian Huxley put the ball straight into touch, saw the All Blacks score from their first meaningful attack of the match after three minutes. The move began with a line break by the impressive Mils Muliaina that carried them to within a few metres of the Wallaby line. Then, after some tunnelling by Byron Kelleher and Anton Oliver, the inroads were made for Tony Woodcock to drive through the lightweight Giteau for a close-range try, Carter’s conversion giving the visitors a dream start.

Australia had a gilt-edged opportunity to get back on level terms when a grubber by Larkham saw Mortlock have the ball knocked out of his hands by Joe Rokocoko as they both went for the bounce over the try-line. Mortlock then missed a long-range penalty, but managed to get Australia off the mark soon afterwards.

However, with Carter kicking a penalty in reply to take the All Black lead to 10-3, Australia were finding it difficult to get a foothold. They were helped when the referee judged that the more powerful All Blacks scrum had collapsed on Hayman’s side, even though the loosehead opposite him, Matt Dunning, has no reputation as a scrummager. Mortlock took full advantage by kicking the penalty to reduce the arrears to 10-6.

The All Blacks’ scrum ensured that the tables were turned soon afterwards, and when the Wallabies conceded a free kick after Guy Shepherdson had engaged early, New Zealand attacked from a quick tapped penalty. The ball was moved swiftly to McAlister, who beat Gregan’s cover tackle before giving Gear a simple run-in, the score remaining at 15-6, with Carter missing the conversion.

With Australia consistently on the back foot at the scrum, their attack looked horribly predictable — whereas New Zealand’s hard-hitting defence and lethal counter-attack looked poised to inflict further damage. Indeed, the All Blacks should have gone further ahead seven minutes before the interval when a Muliaina break, carried on by Aaron Mauger, McCaw, and Troy Flavell, saw Rodney So’oialo knock-on with a try in the offing. However Australia hung on doggedly, and, although Mortlock missed with a straightforward penalty attempt two minutes before the interval, they were still within reach of the All Blacks.

Having been told at half-time to run at the All Blacks, rather than try to go round them, Australia were nearly rewarded early in the second half when a Mortlock line-break saw Shepherdson butcher a scoring chance with two men outside him.

New Zealand responded by bringing the cavalry off the bench, but this time their counter-attacking seemed to run out of steam. Hayman’s yellow card came soon afterwards, and, reduced to 14 men New Zealand began to crumble, leaving the Tri-Nations wide open and the Wallabies dreaming of revenge against the South Africans in Sydney on Saturday.

Australia: Try: Ashley-Cooper 63, Staniforth 72 Conversions: Giteau (2). Penalties: Mortlock (2)

New Zealand: Tries: Woodcock 5, Gear 26 Conversion: Carter. Penalty: Carter

Star man: Stirling Mortlock(Australia)

Australia: J Huxley; A Ashley-Cooper, S Mortlock (capt), M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (S Staniforth 57min); M Dunning, S Moore (A Freier 47min), G Shepherdson, N Sharpe, D Vickerman, R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu (S Hoiles 41min).

New Zealand: M Muliaina; R Gear, L McAlister, A Mauger, J Rokocoko (S Sivivatu 75min); D Carter, B Kelleher (P Weepu 51min); T Woodcock (N Tialata 46min), A Oliver (K Mealamu 46min), C Hayman, C Jack, T Flavell (R Filipo 46min), J Collins, R McCaw (capt), R So’oialo (C Masoe 73min).

Yellow card: C Hayman (61min)

Referee: M Jonker (South Africa).

Attendance: 79,322