A fractious and ill-tempered game saw the Kiwis give penalties in dangerous positions but not be punished by the Kangaroos The first period finishing tied at 6-6 following an early score for New Zealand by Frank-Paul Nuuausala converted by Bryson Goodwin being cancelled out by a Brett Morris try converted by Jonathan Thurston.

The second period and both sides looked to try and play some footy as Australia’s Thurston crossed himself and then posted a penalty before tries from Junior Sa’u, Lance Hohaia and Frank Pritchard looked to have won it for the Kiwis. However Cameron Smith scored a last-minute try rescuing a draw for Australia and giving us the final score of:

Australia 20-20 New Zealand

Scorers

Australia
Tries: Morris, Thurston, Smith Goals: Thurston (4)
New Zealand
Tries: Nuuausala, Sa’u, Hohaia, Pritchard Goals: Goodwin (2)

Teams

Australia: Slater, B. Morris, Inglis, Hodges, Hayne, Lockyer, Thurston, Hannant, Smith, Civoniceva, Waterhouse, Hoffman, Watmough.
Replacements: Gidley for Inglis (40), Thaiday for Hannant (19), White for Civoniceva (17), Gallen for Watmough (31).

New Zealand: Hohaia, Perrett, Matai, Sau, Goodwin, Marshall, Fien, Nuuausala, Leuluai, Moimoi, Harrison, Pritchard, Blair.
Replacements: Lima for Nuuausala (15), Luke for Leuluai (20), Waerea-Hargreaves for Moimoi (16), Soliola for Pritchard (32).

Att: 12,360

Ref: S Ganson (England).