Australia 24 New Zealand 28: New Zealand claimed an unprecedented fourth consecutive Tri-Nations title with a 28-24 win against Australia at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. After trailing 17-7, the All Blacks piled on 21 unanswered points in a match-defining 17-minute spell during the second half to clinch the winner-takes-all contest.

The Wallabies were going in search of their first title since 2001 and looked to be on course to end that drought when they led 10-7 at the half-time break.

Mils Muliaina had crossed for the game's opening try in the 13th minute, but the visitors were forced to weather a constant stream of Wallabies pressure.

Matt Giteau got the Wallabies on the board with a penalty after 23 minutes and the home side's dominance was finally rewarded a minute before the interval when fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper dived over.

The Wallabies took a stronger grip on the game two minutes after the restart when Giteau broke through the away defence before his inch-perfect pass to James Horwill in the next phase set the lock across the line to touch down.

But from there the All Blacks took control, scoring three tries in a 17-minute spell to stun their hosts.

Prop Tony Woodcock was the unlikely scorer of the first of those tries when scurried across in the corner before Piri Weepu went over on the hour mark.

Carter converted to put the Kiwis ahead, and when the talismanic outhalf crossed the try line himself five minutes later, the wind had been sucked from the home side's sails.

Ryan Cross did bullock his way across the line with two minutes to go to set up an inspiring end to the match, but the All Blacks' surge had proved too much for the home side to overcome.

The result also means the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup as they hold a 2-1 lead in the series with a final game in Hong Kong scheduled for November 1st.