New Zealand yesterday snapped a two-game losing streak with a nail-biting 31-28 win over Australia, 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.

You can’t keep living on future revenues.' Photo / Photosport The poor old Wallabies are trying to claw their way up the world rankings from an historic low of ninth, and they are desperately trying to make punitive interest payments on the $80m debt facility they were afforded by an Australasian fund manager.

Australia seek to snap a 21-year hoodoo against New Zealand in the first Test in Sydney. Join Jonathan Howcroft for updates

The All Blacks led 21-0 after 15 minutes but faltered badly in the second half, only just holding on with 13 men at one point to beat Australia 31-28 in the first Bledisloe Cup test.

Scott Robertson’s side have locked the Cup away for another year.

The All Blacks took a commanding 28-14 lead into the break and, despite Australia storming back into contention, held on to retain Bledisloe Cup, a trophy they have owned since 2003.

Result and reaction as All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback - The Wallabies threatened to pull off a remarkable turnaround but fell just short

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 fired and almost fatally fizzed to deliver another erratic performance.