Jordie Barrett scored a try after a controversial final play to hand New Zealand a victory over Australia in a 76-point thriller in Melbourne on Thursday.

Despite letting a couple of numerical advantages and a 16-point lead slip, New Zealand were still able to come away from the Marvel Stadium with a sensational win in the Bledisloe Cup opener.

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In the final play of the match, Australia were leading 37-34 thanks to Nic White’s long-range penalty. The Wallabies went into the break level at 10-10 and were able to fight back and take the lead even though they lost two players to yellow cards towards the end of the first half and had scrumhalf Jake Gordon sent to the sin bin in the second half.

The hosts thought they had seen off a final attack from the All Blacks, by winning a penalty five metres from their own tryline.

However, French referee Mathieu Raynal controversially blew the Wallabies up for time wasting, just as flyhalf Bernard Foley was shaping to kick, giving New Zealand a five-metre scrum. From there, the All Blacks were able to work Jordie Barrett into space and the fullback had enough speed to score the winner in the corner.

With the win, New Zealand extend their lead at the top of the Rugby Championship to five points, with South Africa and Argentina still to play in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images