Rugby Championship: Too close for comfort for the All Blacks in Sydney

New Zealand snapped a two-game losing streak with a nail-biting 31-28 win over Australia on Saturday, holding off a second-half charge to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Both sides scored four tries on a warm Sydney afternoon as the All Blacks rebounded from consecutive Rugby Championship defeats against world champions South Africa.

New Zealand took a commanding 28-14 lead into the break and, despite Australia storming back into contention, held on to retain a trophy they have owned since 2003, dominating possession, set plays and the breakdown.

The writing was on the wall with New Zealand winning their past seven Tests against Australia, heaping more pressure on Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, whose side were humiliated 67-27 in Argentina a fortnight ago.

Despite the fightback, it proved a disappointing way for prop James Slipper to celebrate becoming the most capped Wallaby with his 140th appearance, surpassing George Gregan.

The victory elevated New Zealand above Los Pumas into second on the Rugby Championship ladder, with one game left against Australia, who prop up the table, in Wellington next week.

Argentina host the table-topping Springboks later on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson made a handful of changes after their nerve-racking 18-12 loss in Cape Town a fortnight ago, but in a blow veteran Beauden Barrett was ruled out with illness an hour before kick-off.

It meant Will Jordan moved to fullback and Sevu Reece came in on the wing.

Australia also switched things up, with Nic White and Noah Lolesio thrust in as the halves pairing, while centre Hunter Paisami and fullback Tom Wright returned from injury.

But it made little difference with the hosts exposed inside two minutes when Jordan sliced open the defence to dot