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.

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.

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.