New Zealand strike early and hold on to edge Wallabies in Sydney

SYDNEY :New Zealand scored four tries in the first 25 minutes and held off a late Australian fightback with 13 men to beat the Wallabies 31-28 in a Rugby Championship thriller at Stadium Australia on Saturday.

The All Blacks were held to one penalty in the second half and lost two players to yellow cards, but their early lead proved enough to earn an eighth straight win over their neighbours and ensure they would retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year.

The Wallabies will take heart from their second half fightback, especially after the record 67-27 loss to Argentina two weeks ago.

They were unable to turn pressure into points sufficiently to make up for their error-prone first quarter, however, and their Bledisloe Cup drought will now go on for at least 23 years.

Will Jordan, back at fullback after Beauden Barrett was a late withdrawal, cut through a huge gap in the heart of the home defence to score New Zealand's first try inside two minutes.

Centre Rieko Ioane added the second in the left corner seven minutes later after some powerful forward runs in the midfield, and winger Caleb Clarke made it 21-0 with the third converted try after little more than a quarter of an hour.

Despite making a raft of basic errors, Australia managed to get on the board in the 18th minute through Fraser McReight after a lineout turnover and the openside flanker followed that shortly afterwards with a 50-22.

The Wallabies knocked on at the lineout that resulted, however, and number eight Ardie Savea was soon romping over the line for a fourth All Blacks try after an interception by winger Sevu Reece.

Australia hit back again when hooker Matt Faessler peeled off an attacking maul to touch down and flyhalf Noah Lolesio converted from wideout