NEW Zealand got out of jail in Brisbane, stumbling over the finishing line battered and bruised by the Wallabies in a Tri-Nations test match of fearsome intensity.

The All Blacks had to make 108 tackles to deny a spirited Australian performance that was crucially undermined by poor execution of skills at key moments and a failure to nail chances in the second half.

All Black coach Graham Henry said: "It was a marvellous test match. The traditionalists, those who know the game, should have loved it. It was a quality game between two quality teams."

That was only partially correct. Quality was hardly the word to describe the All Blacks' line-out, which lost nine of its own throws. And Australia's finishing, when they had New Zealand hanging on desperately after half time, was poor. Had it been different, the All Blacks must have been beaten.

Before kick-off, the All Blacks backed down and performed the traditional version of the haka - minus the controversial throat-slitting gesture which has dominated headlines all week.

A record crowd of 52,498 for the SunCorp Stadium saw New Zealand capitalise on two early Australian errors to take a 10-3 lead. Ultimately, those mistakes were to cost the Wallabies the game, for there was a dearth of creative, attacking rugby. The stakes were too high.

Flanker Jerry Collins handed on to wing Joe Rokocoko after 10 minutes but Wallaby flanker Rocky Elsom missed the tackle. The All Black sneaked down the touchline, stepped inside Chris Latham and scored, Carter converting. Soon after, the Australians compounded the error by delaying their own throw-in and conceding a free-kick. At the breakdown, Elsom was penalised for handling in the ruck and Carter kicked a soaring goal.

In a tight, desperately fought match which saw New Zealand also retain the Bledisloe Cup, those early points were critical.

But New Zealand would not have squeezed home without one of the great back row performances of all time by their captain, Richie McCaw (below).

With the Wallabies surging forward in the second half, wing Mark Gerrard streaked down the right in the 55th minute. He cut inside but was caught by the covering McCaw who then stripped the ball off the Australian for a vital turnover.

McCaw contributed all over the field, making 19 tackles, more than twice as many as any teammate.

Henry said of his captain: "He was superb in defence.

You can't play better than that and I thought he was the outstanding individual player of the game."

Australia had 67 per cent of the territory in the first half but could manage only two penalties by Stirling Mortlock. The All Blacks extended their 10-6 lead in a 58th minute breakout when Daniel Carter dropped a goal.

But Mortlock trimmed the lead three minutes later with his third penalty and as the New Zealand line-out disintegrated, Australia seized the moment. Their forwards, although again out-scrummaged in the tight, hammered into the All Black 22, picking and driving as they edged closer to the line. But when the ball was moved wide, Gerrard dropped it and the chance was lost.

Afterwards, Australia coach John Connolly was magnanimous in defeat.

"It was a game that we could have won, but in saying that, I'm not taking anything from New Zealand's win, " he said. The Wallabies had another glorious opportunity to score but fly half Stephen Larkham wasted a 3-1 overlap with a poor pass.

It was the first Test in which Australia they have failed to score a try since their 18-9 loss to Ireland in Dublin in November 2002.

AUSTRALIA
C Latham; M Gerrard, S Mortlock, M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan (c); G Holmes, J Paul, R Blake, N Sharpe, D Vickerman, R Elsom, G Smith, S Fav a . Subs M Chisholm for Fave, 61 mins, P Waugh for Elsom, 61 mins; T McIsaac for Paul, 61 mins; S Cordingley for Gregan, 73 mins; C Rathbone for Tuqiri, 74 mins; M Rogers for Gerrard, 75 mins; G Sheperdsonn for Blake, 77 mins;

NEW ZEALAND
L MacDonald; R Gear, M Muliaina, A Mauger, J Rokocoko; D Carter, B Kelleher; A Woodcock, K Mealamu, C Hayman, C Jack, A Williams, J Collins, R McCaw (c), R So'oialo. Subs C Masoe for Collins, 62 mins; G Somerville for Woodcock, 68 mins; J Eaton for Williams, 74 mins; J Cowan for Kelleher, 75 mins; A Hore for Mealamu, 75 mins.

Referee A Rolland (Ireland)