The Kangaroos have extended their Anzac test hoodoo over the Kiwis, with a clinical 20-12 victory at Eden Park tonight.
From a New Zealand perspective it was the best mid-year test in a long time, with the home side matching their highly-rated opposites stride for stride.
Ultimately the Kiwis were undone by crucial errors at the worst times and the Australians were quick to capitalise, scoring three tries to two in an entertaining clash.
After being somewhat fortunate to hold a 14-6 halftime, the visitors finally sealed the match with a try to Cameron Smith in the 70th minute.
The much hyped James Tamou had little impact and gave no indication that he will be seen again in the Australian jumper.
Shaun Johnson showed promise on his debut - and scored a spectacular intercept try - but Benji Marshall didn't produce the kind of spell binding performance his team was hoping for and probably needed, with a particularly erratic kicking game.
Unlike previous encounters, the Kiwis were in the game for long periods. In the first spell it was only errors at crucial times - and to a lesser extent some perplexing decisions by the English official - that robbed the home side of more momentum.
They were on the wrong end of decisions at least four times in the first half and some led to the Australians scoring points soon after.
It was a brutal start to the match. In the first minute Johnson appeared to damage his shoulder as he rushed across to cover Akuila Uate, who had been set free by a clever Johnathan Thurston kick.
Just two minutes later David Shillington and Sam McKendry clashed heads, with Shillington coming off the worse for wear.
After a strong break down the left, where Manu Vatuvei did particularly well to keep the ball in play, a burst by Ben Matulino created a repeat set of six in front of the Australian posts. After going close twice, Issac Luke eventually twisted over from dummy half to open the scoring in the 12th minute.
The Kangaroos were quick to respond and were only held out by strong defence and a timely Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercept. The Australians were then perhaps fortunate to gain a repeat set - after the referee choose to penalise Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for holding down after numerous earlier similar offences from both teams.
But on the run of play a try was deserved and it came as Thurston stepped through a stretched Kiwi defence in the 21st minute.
It wasn't one way traffic but the Australians were dominating territory and the second try came soon after, as Kenny-Dowall was outflanked and Greg Inglis bolted into the corner five minutes later.
This sparked a good spell of play from the Kiwis, and after concerted pressure Josh Hoffman looked set to score as he chased a clever Johnson grubber, before being taken out by a flying Billy Slater.
It wasn't a penalty try, but a penalty followed and crucially Slater was sinbinned for 10 minutes. Unfortunately the Kiwis contrived to make a mess of the penalty spell, as they forced a pass on the second tackle and didn't return to the Kangaroo red zone for the next 10 minutes.
Mistakes, and some unusual referee decisions, allowed the Australians to take the sting out of the game and they even profited with a timely penalty right on halftime to extend their lead to eight points.
The first minute of the second half seemed to sum up the match. After gaining good field position from a penalty they went wide - but sideways on the third tackle - and Jason Nightingale simply ran over the sideline. Moments later, after another strong set Fien's ambitious kick down a narrow blindside sailed out on the full.
Tough times for coach Steve Kearney but they soon got better. With Australia hot on attack, Johnson plucked a Cooper Cronk pass out of the sky and ran 90 metres to score in the 46th minute.
There was no further scoring until the 70th minute, when Smith showed great awareness to duck and dive over amid heavy traffic close to the line.
Again, the Kangaroos were gifted territory by an unfortunate Kiwi error, which was regrettably the story of the match.
- By Michael Burgess
Kiwis 12 (I Luke, S Johnson tries; B Marshall 2 goals) Kangaroos 20 (J Thurston, G Inglis, C Smith tries; J Thurston 4 goals) HT: 14-6
