Australia's dramatic win with the last kick of the game in Sydney not only prevented the Bledisloe Cup crossing the Tasman for the first time since 1997, it also threw the Tri-Nations competition wide open.
The All Blacks have grown used to such heart-breaking moments, with similar scenes occurring in 2000 when the Wallaby captain John Eales kicked a penalty for a last minute 24-23 victory in Wellington and then last year in Sydney Toutai Kefu scored with only seconds to go to defeat New Zealand 29-26.
In between, the Wallabies inflicted the same pain on South Africa in Durban two years ago when Stirling Mortlock was accurate with a 80th-minute penalty to give Australia a 19-18 victory, and a first Tri-Nations series triumph.
This time it was the Australian centre Matthew Burke who twisted the knife. With just 13 seconds to go, the referee Andre Watson ruled that the All Black replacement Leon McDonald had his hands in the ruck, giving the Wallabies the penalty from 22 metres out.
Adding to the drama was that just a few minutes earlier, Burke, with a fluctuating wind hitting him straight in the face, while attempting a conversion of Mat Rogers' late try had hit the left upright from virtually the same spot. As Burke lined up the kick, he said to himself: "Knock it over, you're a hero. Miss it, you're a villain."
In the Australian coaches box, an anxious Wallaby backs' coach Glen Ella could not look, and turned away. Forwards' coach Ewen McKenzie was "speechless" while the head coach Eddie Jones prayed.
After the kick went through the posts, All Black despair turned to anger, with the fly-half Andrew Mehrtens criticising Watson. Mehrtens said that Watson should have been "ashamed" with himself because of several questionable decisions.
The series will now be determined by how New Zealand and Australia fare in South Africa over the next fortnight. The Springboks can even win the title, but will have to go on a try-scoring spree while stopping both New Zealand in Durban on Saturday and Australia in Johannesburg the following weekend from earning a bonus point.
Jones said Rogers may make the starting line-up on Saturday week. "He's definitely knocking on the door," said Australia's coach. "We're really happy with his progress and certainly he's going to be pushing for a starting spot."
Australia: Latham (Rogers, 62); Tune, Burke, Herbert, Mortlock; Larkham, Gregan (capt); Young, Paul, Noriega (Darwin, 63), Harrison, Sharpe (Cockbain, 63), Finegan (Lyons, 59), Smith, Kefu.
Tries: Sharpe, Rogers. Pens: Burke 2.
New Zealand: Cullen; Howlett, Umaga, Mauger, Ralph; Mehrtens (MacDonald, 78), Marshall; Hewett, Willis, Somerville (McDonnell, 74), Jack, Maling, Thorne (capt), McCaw, Robertson.
Try: McCaw. Pens: Mehrtens 3.
Attendance: 79,543.
Referee: A Watson (South Africa).
