New Zealand 21 Australia 17
New Zealand reclaimed the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in five years and wrapped up an undefeated Tri-Nations campaign as they defeated Australia 21-17 in Auckland.
The foundations of the win were dug in the first half as they scored two tries, both by winger Doug Howlett, and built a 15-9 lead at the break.
And the home side held their nerve and their defensive discipline to resist a fierce fightback by the Australians in the second half.
Howlett's double in the first half, both coming on the end of counter-attacks by the home side, were enough to offset three penalties from Elton Flatley.
It took the Wallabies just a minute to open the scoring as a Carlos Spencer grubber kick came back off Mat Rogers and the resulting defensive scramble ended with a penalty for the visitors, which Flatley converted well from wide on the left.
But the All Blacks showed, if it was necessary, just how dangerous they are from broken play.
Australia struck back when the All Blacks failed to deal with a rampaging run from former rugby league international winger Wendell Sailor and conceded a penalty, which Flatley banged over to reduce the deficit to 7-6.
Flatley then put his team ahead 9-7 just after the quarter mark as he converted a penalty when another attacking surge was stymied by a penalty close to the line.
New Zealand missed the chance to go back in front two minutes later as Spencer sprayed a penalty wide, but in the 25th minute the ever-present menace of the All Black backline came to the fore again.
Number eight Jerry Collins snaffled a turnover, and Spencer used the opportunity to kick high and deep into the right-hand corner. The pace of Howlett took him past Flatley to dive over and put his side back into the lead 12-9.
Spencer struck his conversion against the right-hand post but he made amends shortly afterwards as he kicked a comfortable penalty.
The final seconds of the half saw Chris Jack thunder over at the end of a series of rucks from New Zealand, only for television replays to show he had lost the ball.
Spencer had the chance to kick a penalty as advantage was being played but his effort went wide and the six-point lead remained after a scintillating half of Test rugby.
The second half was incredibly intense, and the defences of both sides were impressive, but it was New Zealand who finally reclaimed a piece of silverware they have missed for five long years.
Sailor failed to reappear after the break because of a thigh injury, while an early break by All Black fullback Muliaina ended with a hamstring injury as he was tackled into touch by Lote Tuqiri.
The evergreen Matt Burke replaced Sailor, while Leon MacDonald stepped into the fullback slot for the home side.
New Zealand fly-half Spencer provided the first scoring action of the break as he hit a penalty after eight minutes, converting despite the verbal attentions of Tuqiri.
Twice within 10 minutes early in the second half the television referee was required to adjudicate on whether an Australian had managed to cross the line, but on both occasions he ruled against them.
The first came when Nathan Sharpe was driven over but failed to ground the ball, and the second when Larkham slipped through in midfield and was only held short by a last-ditch tackle by McCaw.
But the latter brought a scrum and then a penalty for the visitors and inside-centre Flatley converted to reduce the deficit again and maintain the momentum his side had built as the hour mark ticked past.
That momentum was lost when a sweeping backline move by the All Blacks culminated in a penalty, which Spencer converted confidently to restore the nine-point lead.
As Spencer fumbled, the Wallabies pounced, and a superb counter-attack finished with flanker George Smith diving over in the left-hand corner to make it 21-17.
With four wins from four matches, there is no disputing who rules rugby in the southern hemisphere, and New Zealand will go to the World Cup in Australia later this year favoured even above Clive Woodward's England to leave as champions.