VINCIBLE. Yes, it is a word, and yes, New Zealand are.

Australia, not for the first time, shocked their old foes from across the ditch with a Tri-Nations victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. After five straight defeats at the hands of the All Blacks, an unfancied Wallabies side stood up and gave hope to the rest of the planet before the World Cup.

And they didn't even have to play that well to do it. Fullback Julian Huxley had what could politely called a shocker, the line-out - their sole source of hope before the game - was average and their scrum just about broke even.

Coaches around the world looking for a blueprint may be searching for some time.

The All Blacks had dismissed pre-match fears that jet lag would affect them after their win in South Africa last week and they certainly started brightly. Mils Muliaina found a gaping hole just three minutes in and with the help of Richie McCaw engineered a ruck on the Aussie line, allowing prop Tony Woodcock to barge over. Dan Carter added the conversion.

Almost six minutes passed before an Australian touched the ball. After finally exerting some pressure, a clever grubber kick from Stephen Larkham popped up just inches from Stirling Mortlock's grasp behind the line. After 13 minutes, a Mortlock penalty did get his side on the scoreboard but a scintillating break by the All Blacks saw a needless penalty awarded for hands in the ruck, allowing Carter to quickly cancel.

Mortlock then cut the gap to four again after an indiscretion by Anton Oliver in the scrum.

In the 26th minute the All Blacks effortlessly exposed the Australian rearguard, allowing Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister to forge an overlap and Rico Gear to run in unmolested. Carter missed the extras but, at 15-6, everyone in the 80,000 crowd knew there'd be more to come.

Nobody imagined that New Zealand wouldn't score again.

Australia enjoyed their fair share of possession for the remainder of the half, but quick defence and some fearsome tackling from Jerry Collins kept them at bay. After 34 minutes Muliaina went scampering upfield again and some quick hands almost put Rodney So'oialo in the clear, but he clumsily knocked it on.

Some kamikaze tackling from George Gregan helped prevent further damage. Mortlock missed a penalty from halfway just before the break but the home side went in grateful to be just nine down.

They started the second period brightly, prop Guy Sheperdson coming within inches of the try-line before being pinged for not releasing.

The All Blacks struggled to settle, and Carter, who failed to find touch on a number of occasions, panicked and wasted a potential three-on-one overlap. Gregan had to limp off to a huge ovation after a crunching tackle on Chris Jack after 55 minutes and was soon enjoying his view from the sideline.

The turning point came on the hour, as Carl Hayman was sin-binned for tackling Matt Dunning off his feet. The impact was immediate, with Australia surging through eight phases before Adam Ashley-Cooper managed to break through Gear, McCaw and Jack and vault over the line. Matt Giteau slotted the extras for a two-point game.

It would be harsh to say that All Black heads dropped, but they weren't able to find any urgency in their attempts to hang on. A tired-looking Carter missed a relatively straightforward penalty, dropping it short, and the Aussies smelled blood. After 71 minutes, Mortlock burst past McCaw as the All Blacks defence came unstuck before throwing it high to replacement Scott Staniforth, who dived under the posts. The Wallaby faithful believed; the All Blacks, scoreless in the second half, couldn't. They kept it alive until the whistle, but Aussie adrenaline kept them far from the try line.

AUSTRALIA J Huxley; A Ashley-Cooper, S Mortlock (c), M Giteau, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, G Gregan; M Dunning, S Moore, G Sheperdson, N Sharpe, D Vickerman, R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu Subs A Freier for Moore, 47 mins; S Staniforth for Gregan, 55 mins; P Waugh for Smith, 70 mins; M Chisholm for Elsom, 71 mins; A Baxter for Dunning, 77 mins Scorers Ashley-Cooper, Staniforth try each;

Mortlock 2 pens; Giteau 2 cons NEW ZEALAND M Muliaina; R Gear, L McAlister, A Mauger, J Rokocoko; D Carter, B Kelleher; T Woodcock, A Oliver, C Hayman, C Jack, T Flavell, J Collins, R McCaw (c), R So'oialo Subs K Mealamu for Oliver, N Tialata for Woodcock, R Feilipo for Flavell, all 46 mins;

P Weepu for Kelleher, 50 mins; C Masoe for So'oialo, 74 mins; S Sivivatu for Rokocoko, 75 mins Scorers Woodcock, Gear try each;

Carter con, pen Referee M Joncker (South Africa)