Australia (18) 28 Tries: Tate 2, Johns, Gasnier 2, King Goals: Fitzgibbon, Johns New Zealand (18) 38 Tries: Toopi 3, Webb, N. Cayless, Vagana Goals: Jones 7 All the action as it happened

Clinton Toopi scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand recorded a shock victory over Australia in the opening game of the 2005 Tri-Nations Series.

The Kiwis led 18-0 midway through the first half only for the home side to go 22-18 up early in the second half.

But tries from Nathan Cayless, Nigel Vagana and Toopi gave the Kiwis their first win in Sydney since 1959.

Stacey Jones, making his international return, added seven successful kicks to help sink the shell-shocked Aussies.

The unfancied New Zealanders showed no signs of nerves as they took the game by the scruff of the neck from the kick-off.

The Aussies looked flat in comparison and Toopi made them pay with the first try on seven minutes after taking an inside pass from the impressive Jones.

I really believe every single member of our team deserves this New Zealand coach Brian McClennan More match reaction

His second try came just three minutes later after he was able to touchdown after Brent Webb made the decisive break.

Webb added a third on 18 minutes and with Jones adding all three conversions, Australia looked out on their feet.

But the turning point of the first half came on 26 minutes when winger Jake Webster was denied a chance of scoring by a seemingly offside tackler.

Much to their annoyance, the offence was not spotted and just five minutes later, centre Brent Tate ran in from 88 metres for a magnificent solo try.

Aussie star Andrew Johns, back home after his brief spell with Warrington, added a second before Mark Gasnier and Tate crossed to tie the game up at the break.

New Zealand celebrate the end of a long wait for victory in Sydney

The contest seemed to lose a bit of intensity after half-time but Matt King put Australia in front for the first time after New Zealand winger Manu Vatuvei failed to collect a high ball.

Nathan Cayless and Nigel Vagana both crossed to give New Zealand a 30-22 lead with 12 minutes to go and when Jones added a penalty on 70 minutes, the match looked over.

However there was another twist when Gasnier's converted try pulled Australia back to within four points.

And it was left to Toopi to have the final say as he just managed to stretch over in the closing moments.

The win did come at a cost for New Zealand as hooker Lance Hohaia was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg and is now likely to miss the return game next week.

Australia also lost wing Timana Tahu with a hamstring injury.

Australia: Minichiello, Tahu, Tate, Gasnier, King, Lockyer, Johns, Civoniceva, Buderus, Price, O'Donnell, Fitzgibbon, Kennedy.
Replacements: Ryles, Ryan, Waterhouse, Gower.

New Zealand: Webb, Webster, Whatuira, Toopi, Vatuvei, Vagana, Jones, Rauhihi, Hohaia, Wiki, Kidwell, Pritchard, Anderson.
Replacements: Faiumu, Asotasi, N. Cayless, Solomona.