Australia 18 New Zealand 18: Epic stalemate sees Wallabies end Kiwis winning streak

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UPDATED:

14:38 GMT, 20 October 2012

New Zealand's 16-match winning streak was brought to an end with a nail-biting 18-18 draw against a brave and undermanned Wallabies outfit in the third Bledisloe Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium.

While there were no tries, neither side left anything in the tank in a physically and emotionally draining match in front of a bumper crowd of 51,888.

Play continued for several minutes after the final siren and New Zealand's Dan Carter had the opportunity to win the game and stretch his team's streak to a record 17 games.

But his dropped goal attempt was wide of the mark, meaning an 80-minute penalty-fest between the two trans-Tasman nations would end in stalemate.

Hard-fought: Israel Dagg is tackled by Nick Phipps

Rank outsiders before the match, Australia started with intent and felt the benefit of the boot of Mike Harris (five from five for the match) to claim a richly-deserved 12-6 lead at the interval.

Taking advantage of some uncharacteristic All Blacks mistakes – including a yellow card to Tony Woodcock on the half-time whistle – the home nation barely put a foot wrong in the first 40 minutes.

But turnovers began to creep back into their game after the break as a frustrated New Zealand moved to whittle away their advantage.

At 15-9 up after Kurtley Beale's long-range penalty for the Wallabies, Michael Hooper earned himself a 10-minute spell in the bin following a late challenge on Aaron Smith – and New Zealand duly capitalised.

Turning up the heat on Australia, Carter (six from eight) reduced the arrears with the ensuing penalty – and then added another three points to tie things up on 67 minutes.

Under the cosh: Dan Carter came in for close attention

Four minutes later, the All Blacks took the lead for the first time when Adam Ashley-Cooper spilled a high ball, allowing Carter to kick his sixth penalty from right in front.

But the Wallabies levelled again with Harris' fifth penalty as they pushed to send retiring skipper Nathan Sharpe out on a winning note. But that result wasn't to be.

The Kiwis were incensed that Hosea Gear's 23rd-minute effort was chalked off after a superb counter down the left flank.

Harris and Gear were charging towards the ball and the former saved the day with a tap-down – although replays suggested he may not have got a finger on it at all.

Any suggestions this was going to be treated like a dead rubber were extinguished inside the opening minute.

Going to ground: Pat McCabe is tackled by Richie McCaw

In an indication of the intensity the game would be played at, an onrushing Ashley-Cooper charged down the second kick of the game – and his pressure would have paid off had the ball sat in play.

It threatened to boil over at times in the first period, with Scott Higginbotham likely to face sanction for what appeared to be a headbutt on New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw.

Australia dominated possession at stages of the first half and went closest to a try in a long, searching but ultimately fruitless 19th-minute foray.

They were not helped by the inevitable addition of one more to the long list of wounded Wallabies – Sitaleki Timani trudged off in the 21st minute, replaced by Kane Douglas.