The All Blacks powered to their seventh straight victory over the Wallabies with a 32-19 comeback win in Saturday night's historic Bledisloe Cup rugby Test in Tokyo.

The injury-hit Australians squandered a halftime advantage for the fifth time in their past six trans-Tasman encounters to slump to a 4-0 series defeat against the All Blacks for the first time since 1962.

Winger Peter Hynes had boosted hopes of a drought-breaking win when he broke the Wallabies' four-and-a-half-hour tryscoring drought against New Zealand five minutes before the break to help the side to a 16-13 advantage.

But the All Blacks rebounded strongly in the second half, with a converted try to centre Conrad Smith and four Dan Carter penalty goals enough to give the world's second-ranked outfit a triumphant start to their spring tour of Europe - and ruin the Wallabies' hopes of a stylish opening to theirs.

But against the odds, following a series in injury setbacks and team disruptions, it was a vastly-improved performance from the Wallabies after being hammered 33-6 in their most recent meeting with the Blacks seven weeks ago in Wellington.

Again outpointed at the breakdown, the Australians were nevertheless far more competitive at ruck time with coach Robbie Deans' contentious decision to start young bull David Pocock ahead of record-breaking flanker George Smith proving correct.

Rookie halfback Will Genia was fabulous in just his third Test start, his instinct and crisp service sparking the backline, while teenage fullback James O'Connor played with far more assurance than during his mixed Tri Nations campaign against New Zealand.

Hynes's five-pointer marked the first time Australia had breached the New Zealand line since Berrick Barnes scored in the fourth minute in Auckland three Tests ago.

Five-eighth Matt Giteau nailed the sideline conversion, having earlier also slotted three difficult penalties, to counter a 21st-minute converted try to All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and two Carter penalties to hand the Wallabies's their halftime lead.

But perhaps the writing was on the wall in the opening minute when Rocky Elsom's first touch of the ball as Australia's 76th Test captain proved a shocker, the flanker spilling a regulation pass from Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Then vice-captain Giteau had a kick charged down, placing the Wallabies under more pressure.

They recovered to make a match of it, finally playing some nice attacking rugby - but it still wasn't enough.

They had suffered yet another setback just prior to kick-off when hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was unable to start due to a sore Achilles tendon, leaving Stephen Moore to run on.

The disruption followed Friday night's decision to send tour vice-captain Barnes back to Australia for ankle surgery that will sideline the classy centre out for several months.

Young centre Rob Horne was also sent home earlier in the week with a hamstring tear, while former captain Stirling Mortlock - also a centre - was ruled out for at least the first two matches of the tour with a calf injury.

The Japanese crowd - enjoying their first-ever Bledisloe Cup Test - gave the All Blacks rousing applause after the performance of their traditional pre-match haka.

The Test was taken to Tokyo to help promote the game in Japan, the site of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Wallabies depart Tokyo on Sunday for the UK for the grand slam component of their five-Test, seven-match tour.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP