All Blacks seal Bledisloe Cup after referee stunner

MELBOURNE :Jordie Barrett grabbed a try after the siren as the All Blacks snatched a 39-37 win over Australia in a Rugby Championship thriller in Melbourne on Thursday that sealed the Bledisloe Cup - with the help of a controversial referee decision.

In a manic finish at Docklands stadium, French referee Mathieu Raynal took the ball off Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley for time-wasting as he was poised to kick a penalty out of defence with the home side holding a three-point lead with less than a minute left.

Gifted possession, the All Blacks spread the ball wide to Barrett who crossed at the corner as a heaving crowd of 53,245 at Docklands stadium gasped.

The trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup will remain in New Zealand's hands for a 20th year in succession, and Australia were crushed by the manner of the loss, having clawed back from 31-13 down heading into the last quarter.

Raynal had stopped the clock as Foley made to kick, so there appeared little strategic gain in the flyhalf taking his time.

The decision left the enraged home fans booing through the trophy presentation.

Fuming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said he had never seen a similar decision in his long career coaching at elite level.

"I'm gutted for our men because I reckon we deserved better," he said.

"The disappointing thing from our point of view is it was a fantastic game of footy. We should be celebrating the game as opposed to talking about a ref decision at the last minute."

In a bruising clash featuring four yellow cards, including three for the hosts, All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho grabbed a try at the start of both halves, while flyhalf Richie Mo'unga and Will Jordan also crossed in a three-minute burst after the break.

The Wallabies rallied bravely with a