The final hooter sounded just as the ball sailed through the posts, and Matthew Burke was a mightily relieved man. His penalty at the death of the Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney was as notable for being successful as it was for defeating the All Blacks and keeping the Tri Nations alive.
Both Andrew Mehrtens and Burke had had a torrid time kicking for goal with the wind swirling wilfully round Stadium Australia, but Burke had looked particularly pale after he'd hit the post with his attempt to convert Mat Rogers's late second-half try. It was bad enough when he'd missed the simple conversion for Nathan Sharpe's first-half try from a similar position, but this second miss looked at the time like it might cost Australia victory, the Tri Nations and the Bledisloe Cup in one fell swoop of his boot.
But the Australians held their nerve, trailing the All Blacks 14-13 with minutes to go, and continued to hammer into the heart of the New Zealand defence. The All Blacks, meanwhile, were showing the world that it is possible after all to play hard without the ball and not concede penalties, but, by God, it looked like it required an awful lot of concentration. Everyone - players and spectators - seemed acutely aware that the All Blacks were one injudicious trip over a tackled player away from blowing the match. Referee André Watson was watching like a hawk, but it seemed as if New Zealand were winning a small victory for honest defenders everywhere.
But then Mr Watson spotted it, just as the clock ticked into its last minute. It had been too good to be true - there was some skulduggery after all. You just needed to know where to look, and there among a writhing pile of gold and black was an errant Kiwi hand on the ball. It wasn't important whose it was. Penalty to Australia, left of the posts, more difficult than either of Burke's botched conversions. This time, however, he held his nerve, and Australians everywhere erupted, but none looked more possessed than Burke.
The All Blacks, however, were correspondingly devastated, with Reuben Thorne admitting afterwards that the defeat was nothing short of 'heartbreaking'. Not only do they still have a battle on their hands for the Tri Nations title, not only was this their third consecutive last-minute defeat to Australia in this stadium, but they still can't get their hands on the Bledisloe Cup, which has resided in Australia since 1998. After their 12-6 win over the Aussies in Christchurch three weeks ago, this defeat levels the series, so Australia retain the cup for another year.
New Zealand can have no complaints. Trailing 8-3 at the break, they dominated possession in the second half, but, after Richie McCaw nicked an Australian line-out for a try that moved them into an 11-8 lead, they were content to play the corners rather than go for the kill that was on offer.
Mehrtens had a chance to extend their lead with a penalty, but this time had to contend not only with the wind but with a couple of streakers whose antics impinged upon his preparations for the kick. He duly missed, but succeeded four minutes later to put New Zealand 14-8 ahead.
That, though, was Australia's cue, and after sustained pressure replacement full-back Rogers was finally given a half-gap that he took to set up Burke's second calamity. Burke's first had come after Stephen Larkham's inside pass had put Sharpe over for the game's first try. It didn't seem possible that he could miss again. But he did.
Fortunately for Australia, and the Tri Nations, there was to be a third time for him to get lucky.
Australia: Latham (Rogers 62); Tune, Burke, Herbert, Mortlock; Larkham, Gregan (capt); Young, Paul, Noriega (Darwin 63), Sharpe (Cockbain 63), Harrison, Finegan (Lyons 59), Smith, Kefu.
New Zealand: Cullen; Howlett, Umaga, Mauger, Ralph; Mehrtens (McDonald 78), Marshall; Hewett, Willis, Somerville (McDonnell 74), Jack, Maling, Thorne (capt), McCaw, Robertson.
Referee: A Watson (South Africa).
Australia:
Tries: Sharpe, Rogers. Pens: Burke (2).
New Zealand: Try: McCaw. Pens: Mehrtens (3).
