Australia won the Rugby Championship for the first time on Saturday thanks to a 27-19 victory over New Zealand.
The Wallabies were 3-6 down at half time, but an improved performance after the break saw them turn the match around.
The victory was Australia's first triumph over the All Blacks since 2011, ending a 10-game winless run.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how all of the action unfolded in Sydney.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's Rugby Championship decider between old rivals Australia and New Zealand in Sydney. Let's bring you the teams...
AUSTRALIA: Sio, Moore, Kepu, Mumm, Horwill, Fardy, Hooper, Pocock, Phipps, Foley, Mitchell, Giteau, Kuridrani, Ashley-Cooper, Folau
NEW ZEALAND: Woodcock, Coles, O Franks, Romano, Retallick, Kaino, McCaw, Read, A Smith, Carter, Savea, Williams, C Smith, Milner-Skudder, B Smith
REPLACEMENTS
AUSTRALIA: Polota-Nau, Holmes, Slipper, Skelton, McCalman, White, Beale, Toomua
NEW ZEALAND: Taylor, Laulala, B Franks, Whitelock, Cane, Perenara, Fekitoa, Barrett
Despite this game being held in front of an Australian crowd, it would be fair to say that New Zealand are favourites to triumph. The All Blacks are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against the Wallabies - a run that has lasted four years.
This match holds special significance for New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who is making a record-equalling 141st Test appearance for his country. He shares that record with Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll, but it's only a matter of time before McCaw makes it his own.
Australia captain Stephen Moore: "[McCaw's] been at the top of the game for a long time. It's very tough to stay in the position he has been in for a long time, so I certainly admire and respect that."
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Australia's recent record against the All Blacks may be far from enviable, but what a fillip it would be for them to get one over their rivals with the Rugby World Cup around the corner? However, if they fail to beat the All Blacks today, they'll get another chance next weekend when the teams meet for a warm-up encounter in Auckland.
The Wallabies can actually take some encouragement from their last meeting with New Zealand, which ended in a narrow 29-28 victory for the All Blacks in Brisbane last October. Australia looked on course for the win before Malakai Fekitoa's late coverted try turned the game on its head. The hosts will certainly be looking to avenge that loss over the next 80 minutes or so.
A victory for New Zealand today would see the All Blacks crowned Rugby Championship winners for the fourth consecutive time. Meanwhile, the Aussies have not got their hands on the trophy since the tournament was established back in 2012.
Not long to go now as the teams prepare to emerge from the tunnel. The ANZ Stadium has filled up nicely as kickoff edges closer.
The All Blacks got a respectful reception when they entered the field, but it was nothing compared to the raucous noise that was made when Australia stepped onto the pitch. The home crowd are pumped up!
KICKOFF! The teams are out, the anthems have been belted out, the Haka has been performed with gusto, and it will be Australia to get us underway. Here we go!
Australia have been dominant during the opening few minutes, though the All Blacks are starting to find their feet a little. The handling hasn't been great from either side so far, despite the conditions being dry.
Australia have a chance to break upfield as Pocock wins the ball back before it's spread out to Mitchell on the left. However, the winger knocks on and New Zealand are let off the hook. Pocock turns the ball over again for the hosts soon after, but yet another knock on costs Australia.
SIN BIN! Aussie prop Kepu is shown a yellow card for not retreating when New Zealand were awarded a penalty around the five-metre line. The All Blacks are putting some real pressure on the home side here.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 0-3 NEW ZEALAND (CARTER)
Following the yellow card for Kepu, Dan Carter takes the ball back and slots the resulting penalty between the posts with ease. No chance he was going to miss that. First blood to the All Blacks.
New Zealand are seeing the majority of the ball now, with Test debutant Milner-Skudder doing plenty of damage down the left side. He's been very lively so far, making up lots of ground for his side with a quick turn of pace. Australia must keep him at bay if they want to stop the All Blacks.
The Australian backs have certainly improved their handling since the early stages. The likes of Foley and Folau have shown good composure when under pressure.
New Zealand think they might have scored the first try of the match, but a video replay rules it out. A kick was charged down deep in Aussie territory before Carter scampered towards the line, trying to touch down the loose ball. However, Giteau showed a quicker pair of heels and managed to get there first.
As is so often the case at the top level of international rugby, discipline is such an important factor here. Australia have conceded four penalties so far, though New Zealand have failed to capitalise. A more clinical All Blacks performance could have seen the visitors establish a much healthier lead at this stage.
5 - Australia are winless in their last 5 Tests vs New Zealand at @ANZStadium & have won 1 of last 9 there overall. Discomforts. #AUSvNZL
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) August 8, 2015
Australia enjoy a spell of pressure deep in the New Zealand half, and that's all down to a bursting run from Pocock. He made up a good 20 yards there before being halted in his tracks. The Wallabies end up putting in the scrum about five metres from the try line before they win the penalty. Cue some handbags between the players.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 3-3 NEW ZEALAND (GITEAU)
Australia get themselves level thanks to a Matt Giteau penalty, though it looked for a second as if he might have hacked the ball wide of the posts. It was a heart-in-mouth moment for many of the fans in the ANZ Stadium!
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 3-6 NEW ZEALAND (CARTER)
New Zealand get their noses in front again as Carter launches a long-range penalty inside the posts. Again, it was a close call but the veteran fly-half just about made it. Referee Wayne Barnes awarded the penalty after the Aussies infringed during a ruck. The All Blacks may be ahead but there's a much more even flow to the game now.
OFF THE POST! Australia come within inches of making it 6-6 as Giteau hits the upright with his penalty from 20-plus yards. That was agonisingly close.
OFF THE POST! Australia come within inches of making it 6-6 as Giteau hits the upright with his penalty from 20-plus yards. That was agonisingly close.
CHANCE! What a huge opportunity for Australia to score the game's opening try! Folau makes a dynamic run past three All Blacks before he is tackled to the ground about five metres out. Phipps is on the scene first to spread the ball out to the left, but it's knocked on by Mumm and the visitors have the penalty. You can't afford to fluff those chances against the world champions.
This is a good spell from Australia. They're keeping New Zealand pinned right back and not allowing the All Blacks any breathing space to push forward. However, can they make this dominance count?
HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA 3-6 NEW ZEALAND
The whistle goes for half time but not before New Zealand almost touch down for the first try of the match. A break saw Savea makes a dash for the line on the left, only for Hooper to make a try-saving tackle on the winger.
It's been a hard-fought match so far, though it would be fair to say that the All Blacks deserve their lead. While the hosts have been inconsistent at times, New Zealand have been that bit more clinical when it matters.
If Australia are going to win this match they're going to have to improve their handling. The Wallabies have shown poor hands at key times so far, with one instance costing them what could well have been a try. New Zealand have been far from their sparkling best, but they've looked far more solid for longer periods.
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SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! No rest for the wicked. The teams are back out for the second half, which New Zealand will get underway.
YELLOW CARD! New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith is sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Adam Ashley-Cooper. It was an easy decision for referee Wayne Barnes. It's been a good start to the second half for the Aussies. They've wasted no time in getting at New Zealand.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 8-6 NEW ZEALAND (KEPU)
Sekope Kepu scores his first international try to put Australia in the lead! The prop received the ball about 10 metres from the line following a breakdown before weaving his way past three All Blacks and touching down. What a moment for the 29-year-old.
CONVERSION! AUSTRALIA 10-6 NEW ZEALAND (GITEAU)
Matt Giteau makes no mistake with the boot to extend Australia's lead.
New Zealand win a scrum five metres from the try line. The All Blacks keep the pressure on, though they can't get past the robust Aussie defence. New Zealand eventually win a penalty for offside. The Wallabies are being tested here.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 10-9 NEW ZEALAND (CARTER)
Dan Carter makes it three from three with the boot to get his side within a point of the Aussies. Meanwhile, the hosts have made a change as Toomua replaces Foley.
We've only had a little over 10 minutes of this second half, but Australia have looked much more composed and assured since the restart. The Wallabies have put consistent pressure on the All Blacks, which they really struggled to do during the opening 40 minutes.
YELLOW CARD! That's really daft from Aussie scrum-half Nick Phipps. He failed to retreat on two separate occasions as New Zealand tried to take a quick tap-and-go penalty. Aaron Smith is back on for the All Blacks. Kepu is off, Greg Holmes is on for the Wallabies.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 10-14 NEW ZEALAND (MILNER-SKUDDER)
Nehe Milner-Skudder marks his Test debut with a try! Ben Smith was at the heart of that move for the All Blacks, bursting forward and dragging men towards him before offloading to Milner-Skudder on the right to touch down. Clinical stuff from the visitors.
MISSED CONVERSION! Dan Carter pushes the ball left of the posts, failing to extend his team's advantage.
The Wallabies make a couple of changes as Sio and Horwill and replaced by Slipper and Skelton. Just over two minutes remaining at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Can Australia turn it around?
TRY! AUSTRALIA 15-14 NEW ZEALAND (ASHLEY-COOPER)
Australia regain the lead as Adam Ashley-Cooper goes over in the corner! It was brilliantly set up by Toomua, whose little grubber kick was picked up by Ashley-Cooper before he went down. A video replay was needed, but there was no doubt that it was a clean try.
CONVERSION! AUSTRALIA 17-14 NEW ZEALAND (GITEAU) Giteau kicks over the extras, finding the posts from an incredibly tight angle over by the touchline.
Another change for the Aussies now as McCalman takes the place of Pocock, who has faded after enjoying a decent first half.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 17-19 NEW ZEALAND (MILNER-SKUDDER)
What a debut Milner-Skudder is having! He touches down for the second time in the match to put New Zealand back in the lead. It took a fair bit of deliberating from the TMO because it was unclear whether the debutant had grounded the ball. However, referee Wayne Barnes eventually gave it.
MISSED CONVERSION! Carter is wayward with the boot once again, putting the conversion wide. Meanwhile, the Aussies make a change as Beale replaces Giteau.
PENALTY! 20-19 NEW ZEALAND (WHITE)
Another replacement, Nic White, enters the action and makes an instant impact by booting a long-range penalty between the posts to put the Aussie in front once more. What a game this is! He replaced Matt Giteau, by the way.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 25-19 NEW ZEALAND (WHITE)
What an impact Nic White has made since coming on! He scores his first Test try to extend Australia's advantage, but it's no more than they deserve. Some persistent pressure around the five-metre line eventually pays off as White bobs his way through to touch down.
CONVERSION! AUSTRALIA 27-19 NEW ZEALAND (WHITE) White converts his own try to put Australia on the verge of a famous victory. Can they hang on?
One thing that's certain in this match is that New Zealand will not give up until the final whistle goes. It's one thing to beat the All Blacks in the physical department, but it's another thing to outlast them mentally. However, time is running out for the world champions.
New Zealand are deep in Australian territory, toiling away to make something happen. The All Blacks are doing their utmost to get a score and get themselves back in this game. Tense times for the Aussies.
FULL TIME: AUSTRALIA 27-19 NEW ZEALAND
Australia win the Rugby Championship thanks to their first win over New Zealand since 2011! The Wallabies deserved the victory following a much-improved performance in the second half, but the All Blacks ran them very close indeed.
The victory has also seen the Aussies end a 10-match winless run against New Zealand, a streak that they were desperate to end. The All Blacks have the chance to get some revenge next weekend in Auckland when the sides will meet again.
That's all from our live text coverage of today's clash, but don't forget that you can catch all of the reaction right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
