A shuddering southern hemisphere confrontation in the Gillette Four Nations concluded in a titantic draw. Australia were perched on the brink but dug deep in producing a try in the penultimate minute that Johnathan Thurston nervelessly converted in making it honours even last night.

Antipodean expatriates colonised this corner of West London for a trans-Tasman classic that made the previous night's game between England and France appear ludicrously tame and pedestrian. The watching England coach Tony Smith knows after this mighty match just how colossal the task his side faces against two teams who matched each other blow for mighty blow.

Trailing 20-14 and with 90 seconds on the clock, Greg Inglis smuggled a pass out to Cameron Smith, after New Zealand had been penalised close to their line, which helped spare Australia a repeat of the famous upset by the Kiwis in last year's World Cup final

The talk all week by Australia had been of the "big D" but New Zealand's defence was nothing short of extraordinary.

How they were still level at 6-6 at half time was anyone's guess. They held out on their line during a 20 minute spell when they conceded six consecutive penalties and barely had their hands on the ball. Each time the black door was slammed shut in frustrated green and gold faces.

Australia were clattered amidships time and again, with the outstanding Adam Blair and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leading in the way in a remarkable display by the Kiwis pack. The blue touch paper in such a physical battle was lit by Australia substitute Paul Gallen's swinging arm narrowly missing hooker Isaac Luke. Gallen followed up by grinding Luke's head into the ground, which sparked a furious melee towards the end of the half.

The pace was relentless from the off, and after holding out on their line for successive sets of tackles, New Zealand struck on the first of only two attacks of note during the first 40 minutes. Fuifui Moimoi rampaged over the top of Smith and Nathan Fien combined with Blair, who picked out the unstoppable Frank-Paul Nuuausala on an angled charge that offered Bryson Goodwin a simple conversion in putting the Kiwis 6-0 up.

For 20 minutes, New Zealand tackled like demons; if their discipline was awry, their big hits didn't miss. With the line begging, Billy Slater, Darren Lockyer and Brett White were each wrapped up or bundled out. Debutant Morris tripped when it looked easier to score before eventually, in the 30th minute, Smith's wonderful offload put Inglis into space and the big centre picked out White on the wing for the equalising try, converted by Thurston.

After the outstanding work by the New Zealand defence, it was ironic that a case of taking sweets from a baby characterised Thurston's one-on-one steal as full back Lance Hohaia ran the ball out with little conviction. Thurston converted his own try and added a further penalty in the 52nd minute after the Kiwis were caught offside.

Within three minutes, however, they were back within four points. It would have been two had Luke's conversion not bounced off the upright. Australia had conceded a pensalty in front of the posts, which the Kiwis ran with real purpose. They had seen little of their opponents' line all night, but Junior Sa'u cut back inside two tackles and left four defenders grasping at him as ploughed over.

New Zealand again held out under immense pressure and regained the lead after 70 minutes, when Australia were caught out by Fien's steepling kicking and knocked on. From the resulting scrum, Hohaia sliced his way over and Goodwin's extra two points nudged New Zealand back in front and they extended their lead five minutes later after Jarryd Hayne was pinned behind his line.

Forced to drop out, Australia conceded when Marshall and Fien combined to send Frank Pritchard on an arcing run for a try that had Goodwin converted might have sealed another historic Kiwis victory.

Star player: Adam Blair (New Zealand).

Scorers: Australia: Tries: Morris 29, Thurston 43, Smith 78. Goals: Thurston 4. New Zealand: Tries: Nuuausala 4, Sa'u 55, Hohaia 70, Pritchard 75. Goals: Goodwin 2.

Australia: B Slater; B Morris, G Inglis, J Hodges, J Hayne; D Lockyer (capt), J Thurston; B Hannant, C Smith, P Civoniceva, T Waterhouse, R Hoffman, A Watmough. Substitutes: B White, S Thiaday, P Gallen, K Gidley.

New Zealand: L Hohaia; S Perrett, S Matai, J Sa'u, B Goodwin; B Marshall (capt), N Fien; F-P Nuuausala, T Leuluai, F Moimoi, B Harrison, F Pritchard, A Blair. Substitutes: J Lima, I Luke, I Soliola, J Wared-Hargreaves.

Referee: S Ganson (England).

Attendance: 12,360.