Aussies earn late draw

New Zealand looked destined to repeat last year's seismic World Cup final upset when Lance Hohaia and Frank Pritchard crossed to establish a 20-14 lead with six minutes to go.

However, Smith struck with just over a minute left to go with Johnathan Thurston adding the conversion to secure a face-saving draw for the tournament favourites.

The Kiwis surged ahead just seven minutes in, a muscular run from prop Fuifui Moimoi doing the initial damage. Adam Blair spotted Frank-Paul Nuuausala running at full tilt on his shoulder and fed the Roosters prop who barged his way over from 15 yards out. Bryson Goodwin converted.

New Zealand's defence was brutal at times, but the Kangaroos looked slicker on the ball and it was a sublime offload by Smith that helped them draw level.

At the last possible moment, Smith slipped the ball out of the tackle to Greg Inglis who dashed 40 yards before supplying Brett Morris the scoring pass with Thurston improving the try.

The second half was just three minutes old when disaster struck for New Zealand, Lance Hohaia finding himself stripped of the ball by Thurston 10 yards out and the Cowboys scrum-half dived over.

Thurston converted his own try before adding a penalty but the Kiwis struck back in the 56th minute when Junior Sa'u powered over the whitewash. New Zealand attacked the line at pace and reaped the reward as Australia's scrambling defence cracked, enabling Sa'u to reduce the deficit to 14-10.

The Kangaroos were struggling and when they knocked on 10 metres out in the 69th minute, the Kiwis ran in their third try with Hohaia sprinting over the line.

Goodman converted to set up the grandstand finish, Pritchard and Smith exchanging tries in a frantic finale.