Australia shot out of the blocks with a kick behind from Reece Hodge, turning the New Zealand defence around and allowing Tom Wright to cut back inside and score on debut for Australia, and give the Wallabies a 5-nil lead.
The All Blacks countered quickly with Rieko Ioane crossing in the corner for New Zealand, levelling the scores at 5-all.
New Zealand were stunned following a red card to prop Ofa Tuungafasi just after the first quarter of the match, when he was deemed to have hit Tom Wright high, with the shoulder, which hit the red card threshold, and reduced the All Blacks to 14 men.
Australia took the lead with a penalty to Reece Hodge, moving the scoreline to 8-5 but the All Blacks countered with a penalty of their own to Jordie Barrett to level the scores once again..
Both sides were reduced to 14 men following a red card for Lachlan Swinton on debut. The flanker was penalised for a high shot on Sam Whitelock and referee Nic Berry had no choice but to send off the debutant.
Australia was put under further pressure when Marika Koroibete was given a yellow card on the cusp of the break, with the winger sent to the bin following repeated Wallabies infringements.
The second half saw the Wallabies re-take the lead with two back-to-back Hodge penalties helping the Wallabies jump to a 14-8 lead.
The All Blacks found a way to counter quickly off an error from an Australian line-out though, and Codie Taylor capitalised for New Zealand to allow them to wrestle back the lead.
The momentum of the second half continued to swing between the two sides however the Wallabies fought their way back into the match and an additional penalty to Reece Hodge gave the men in gold a two-point lead with nine minutes to go.
The Wallabies continued to battle against the All Blacks defence and after hammering New Zealand for over 11 phases Australia, Taniela Tupou punched through to score.
Hodge converted the try and gave the Wallabies take a 24-15 lead with just minutes to spare but the drama wasn’t yet over as the All Blacks grabbed a five-pointer of their own to close the margin.
New Zealand continued to hammer the Wallabies defence in the closing stages but the men in gold held strong, turning the ball over, to send the ball into a jubilant Suncorp Stadium.
The win keeps Australia’s e-Toro Tri Nations hopes alive, and continues the Wallabies unbeaten run in Brisbane going with seven wins in a row.
The Wallabies next face Argentina at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle on Saturday 21 November with tickets available from Wallabies.Rugby.
TEAMS
Wallabies: 1. James Slipper 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Rob Simmons 5. Matt Philip 6. Lachie Swinton 7. Michael Hooper (c) 8. Harry Wilson 9. Nic White 10. Reece Hodge 11. Marika Koroibete 12. Hunter Paisami 13. Jordan Petaia 14. Tom Wright 15. Tom Banks
Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga'a 17. Angus Bell 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Ned Hanigan 20. Liam Wright 21. Tate McDermott 22. Noah Lolesio 23. Filipo Daugunu
New Zealand: 1. Karl Tu'inkuafe 2. Codie Taylor 3. Ofa Tuungafasi 4. Scott Barrett 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Akira Ioane 7. Sam Cane (c) 8. Ardie Savea 9. TJ Perenara 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Rieko Ioane 12. Ngani Laumape 13. Anton Lienert-Brown 14. Sevu Reece 15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Alex Hodgman 18. Tyrel Lomax 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Cullen Grace 21. Brad Weber 22. Damian McKenzie 23. Will Jordan
WALLABIES SUBSTITUTIONS
40 mins - Bell for Slipper, 52 mins - Hanigan for Simmons, 64 mins - Fainga'a for Paenga-Amosa, 64 mins - Lolesio for Petaia, 67 mins – McDermott for White, 67 mins – Daugunu for Wright, 69 mins – Wright for Wilson
WALLABIES MATCH NOTES:
Tom Wright Test debut- Wallaby #938
Lachlan Swinton Test debut – Wallaby #939
Angus Bell Test debut – Wallaby #940
James Slipper – 100th Test Cap
