Australia's cricketers may have just been given a good thumping by the English in the Ashes, but things are looking better for the nation's rugby union side.
The Aussies have beaten the New Zealand All Blacks, the World Cup holders, 27-19 to send out a warning ahead of this year Rugby World Cup in England, which starts next month.
Australia's win against the Rugby World Cup favourites saw them win the fourth Rugby Championship, which involves the four big Southern Hemisphere teams - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. It replaced the Tri-Nations, which didn't include Argentina.
Holders and two-time winners New Zealand are the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup in England, which starts on 18th September, with hosts and 2003 winners England the second favourites, 1995 and 2007 winners South Africa the third favourites and 1991 and 1999 winners Australia the fourth favourites.
Australia 27-19 New Zealand: Wallabies seal Rugby Championship with spirited victory against the All Blacks
Australia defeated New Zealand 27-19 in Rugby Championship decider
The crunch clash doubled up as the opening contest in the Bledisloe Cup
A late try from Nic White gave Australia breathing space in second half
Wallabies won three straight Championship games for first time since 2000
By Nick Mulvenney, Reuters
8 August 2015
Daily Mail
Scrumhalf Nic White came off the bench to score 10 points in the last 11 minutes and give Australia victory over New Zealand and a first Rugby Championship title on Saturday.
White's drop goal and converted try settled a lively contest in which the lead see-sawed back and forth all evening and gave the Wallabies their first victory over the world champions since 2011.
That was also the year they last won the southern hemisphere championship in the final year of the Tri-Nations.
Australia secured the Rugby Championship with a spirited 27-19 victory against New Zealand on Saturday
The Wallabies pose with the Rugby Championship trophy after beating their arch rivals in Sydney
A late try from Nic White settled Australia's nerves in the second half as they secured a memorable victory
White came off the bench to score 10 points in the last 11 minutes and give Australia victory over New Zealand
Adam Ashley-Cooper celebrates his try with Israel Folau during the Championship decider against All Blacks
Prop Sekope Kepu and winger Adam Ashley-Cooper also crossed for the Australians, who will win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 if they can beat the All Blacks in Auckland next week.
New Zealand winger Nehe Milner-Skudder scored two tries on debut and flyhalf Dan Carter kicked three penalties but it was not enough to prevent the All Blacks falling to only a third defeat since winning the World Cup in 2011.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw suffered only his 15th defeat in the black shirt as he made his 141st appearance for his country, matching Irishman Brian O'Driscoll's record tally.
An uncharacteristic All Blacks spill from the kick off and a good shove in the first scrum gave Australia early hope that it might be their night but they were soon defending their line after a burst from Milner-Skudder.
The Australia players walk back on the pitch after beating the All Blacks to seal the Rugby Championship title
Australia's Greg Holmes and Will Skelton celebrate after winning their Rugby Championship decider
David Pocock suffered a nasty-looking eye injury during Australia's match against rivals New Zealand
Australia's Folau (centre) is tackled by New Zealand's Julian Savea (left) and Ben Smith (right)
The All Blacks' Nehe Milner-Skudder celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a try for his team
Kepu was sin-binned for killing the ball under his own posts and Carter slotted the ensuing penalty to give the visitors a 3-0 lead in the eighth minute.
David Pocock and Michael Hooper got the turnovers Australia coach Michael Cheika wanted from his experimental back row but poor handling and a shocking display of passing from scrumhalf Nick Phipps meant they were unable to exploit them.
Matt Giteau did put them on level terms in the 26th minute with his first penalty but Carter restored New Zealand's lead from the tee three minutes later.
Both sides would have been unhappy with their first half performances but the smiles were on the Australian faces in the crowd of 73,824 four minutes after the break.
Australia's Sekope Kepu goes on a rampaging run and successfully scores a try to help his side win
Stephen Moore of the Wallabies tackles Jeremy Kaino during the match at Sydney's Olympic Stadium
Australia's Ashley-Cooper (right) is taken high by New Zealand's Aaron Smith but holds onto the ball
The Aussies have beaten the New Zealand All Blacks, the World Cup holders, 27-19 to send out a warning ahead of this year Rugby World Cup in England, which starts next month.
Australia's win against the Rugby World Cup favourites saw them win the fourth Rugby Championship, which involves the four big Southern Hemisphere teams - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. It replaced the Tri-Nations, which didn't include Argentina.
Holders and two-time winners New Zealand are the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup in England, which starts on 18th September, with hosts and 2003 winners England the second favourites, 1995 and 2007 winners South Africa the third favourites and 1991 and 1999 winners Australia the fourth favourites.
Australia 27-19 New Zealand: Wallabies seal Rugby Championship with spirited victory against the All Blacks
Australia defeated New Zealand 27-19 in Rugby Championship decider
The crunch clash doubled up as the opening contest in the Bledisloe Cup
A late try from Nic White gave Australia breathing space in second half
Wallabies won three straight Championship games for first time since 2000
By Nick Mulvenney, Reuters
8 August 2015
Daily Mail
Scrumhalf Nic White came off the bench to score 10 points in the last 11 minutes and give Australia victory over New Zealand and a first Rugby Championship title on Saturday.
White's drop goal and converted try settled a lively contest in which the lead see-sawed back and forth all evening and gave the Wallabies their first victory over the world champions since 2011.
That was also the year they last won the southern hemisphere championship in the final year of the Tri-Nations.
Australia secured the Rugby Championship with a spirited 27-19 victory against New Zealand on Saturday
The Wallabies pose with the Rugby Championship trophy after beating their arch rivals in Sydney
A late try from Nic White settled Australia's nerves in the second half as they secured a memorable victory
White came off the bench to score 10 points in the last 11 minutes and give Australia victory over New Zealand
Adam Ashley-Cooper celebrates his try with Israel Folau during the Championship decider against All Blacks
Prop Sekope Kepu and winger Adam Ashley-Cooper also crossed for the Australians, who will win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 if they can beat the All Blacks in Auckland next week.
New Zealand winger Nehe Milner-Skudder scored two tries on debut and flyhalf Dan Carter kicked three penalties but it was not enough to prevent the All Blacks falling to only a third defeat since winning the World Cup in 2011.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw suffered only his 15th defeat in the black shirt as he made his 141st appearance for his country, matching Irishman Brian O'Driscoll's record tally.
An uncharacteristic All Blacks spill from the kick off and a good shove in the first scrum gave Australia early hope that it might be their night but they were soon defending their line after a burst from Milner-Skudder.
The Australia players walk back on the pitch after beating the All Blacks to seal the Rugby Championship title
Australia's Greg Holmes and Will Skelton celebrate after winning their Rugby Championship decider
David Pocock suffered a nasty-looking eye injury during Australia's match against rivals New Zealand
Australia's Folau (centre) is tackled by New Zealand's Julian Savea (left) and Ben Smith (right)
The All Blacks' Nehe Milner-Skudder celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a try for his team
Kepu was sin-binned for killing the ball under his own posts and Carter slotted the ensuing penalty to give the visitors a 3-0 lead in the eighth minute.
David Pocock and Michael Hooper got the turnovers Australia coach Michael Cheika wanted from his experimental back row but poor handling and a shocking display of passing from scrumhalf Nick Phipps meant they were unable to exploit them.
Matt Giteau did put them on level terms in the 26th minute with his first penalty but Carter restored New Zealand's lead from the tee three minutes later.
Both sides would have been unhappy with their first half performances but the smiles were on the Australian faces in the crowd of 73,824 four minutes after the break.
Australia's Sekope Kepu goes on a rampaging run and successfully scores a try to help his side win
Stephen Moore of the Wallabies tackles Jeremy Kaino during the match at Sydney's Olympic Stadium
Australia's Ashley-Cooper (right) is taken high by New Zealand's Aaron Smith but holds onto the ball
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