Australia vs. New Zealand: Score, Report from 2015 Rugby Championship Clash

Australia have been crowned 2015 Rugby Championship winners after beating New Zealand 27-19 on Saturday thanks to a terrific second-half display at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

New Zealand rookie Nehe Milner-Skudder scored a brace of tries to mark a sensational Test debut for the All Blacks, but it proved insufficient as Sekope Kepu, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nic White led the Wallabies to victory.

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

Saturday's result sees New Zealand's three-year grip on the Rugby Championship come to an end, with Michael Cheika's side claiming their first southern-hemisphere title since 2011.

White picked a superb occasion to score his first Test try, coming off the bench to dot down in the 71st minute before converting from the tee to clinch victory in the first of two back-to-back Bledisloe Cup meetings.

In particular, Australia can be most proud of the fashion in which they kept New Zealand at arm's length in the dying minutes, per Jamie Pandaram of the Daily Telegraph:

It was a slow start at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, as can so often be the case in clashes with such high stakes, with a grand total of nine points and no tries being scored in the opening 40 minutes.

New Zealand had the greater share of the early chances despite a minority in possession, with Milner-Skudder looking dangerous on debut thanks to his injection of pace.

The Wallabies stood strong in defence, though, and it was the flanker axis of David Pocock and Michael Hooper that nullified Richie McCaw, per KICCA's Ian Stafford:

Israel Folau had the greatest chance for the hosts in the dying minutes of the half, but a spill from Dean Mumm saved Steve Hansen's side, who went in at the break with a 6-3 lead thanks to two penalties from Dan Carter.

Australia took their one-man advantage well, but then came the Wallabies' turn to persevere with 14 men after scrum-half Nick Phipps attempted two tackles from an offside position.

And just as their opponents did, New Zealand punished the Sydney hosts after Ben Smith busted his way through enemy lines before offloading to Milner-Skudder on the right flank for his first debut try. Eat Sleep Rugby provided a glimpse at his moment of magic:

"

Nehe Milner-Skudder scores on debut for the ABs. What a pass by Ben Smith to put him in the space. https://t.co/Jz2Hw8FkZp

— EatSleepRugby (@Eat_Sleep_Rugby) August 8, 2015"

The game went through an obvious step-up in tempo at this point, and no sooner were the 15 men of New Zealand celebrating their 14-10 lead than Ashley-Cooper was scything in to put the hosts back in front.

It had been Smith who stole the ball off Ashley-Cooper in the build-up to Milner-Skudder's score just five minutes previous. But this time it was the Waratahs talisman who collected a terrific Matt Toomua grubber, beating the All Blacks full-back to touch down in the right corner.

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

Phipps' yellow card meant this was a crucial juncture at which defence became the priority for Cheika's men, but again they would crumble under the pressure as Milner-Skudder barrelled over for his second in the same corner.

Australia made a sensational effort to prevent the score and a long pause was needed as the TMO went about making their decision, but the try stood, and OptaJason confirmed Milner-Skudder's historic achievement:

Brendan Bradford of Sportal attested to the controversy of the score, but it was decided that referee Wayne Barnes saw no reason not to award the try.

Dan Carter failed to convert from the touchline, however, meaning New Zealand remained one point behind their bitter foes at 20-19, which ultimately proved to be as close as they came to victory.

For after a series of bungled defensive errors, terrier-like substitute White snatched a crucial try for Australia nine minutes from the buzzer, with Front Row Grunt attesting to his scrappy score:

White converted from in front of the posts to put Australia ahead 27-19, but even with an eight-point advantage, one can never be so careless as to rule the All Blacks out of a comeback.

And the Wallabies proved vigilant enough in their efforts, keeping the visitors at bay for the remainder of the half to record a rare victory over Hansen's men that's sure to go down in history.

Saturday's win means Australia have claimed a crucial advantage in the quest to win this year's Bledisloe Cup, with the two teams scheduled to face off in a reverse fixture at Auckland's Eden Park next Saturday.

Both teams will consider the clash another way to test their credentials ahead of the World Cup, but Australia are sure to savour this moment as proof of their evolution under Cheika.