Kangaroos winger Inglis (left) scored two tries for Australia

Australia: (6) 20
Tries: Inglis (2), Gasnier
Goals: Thurston (3)
Pens: Thurston

New Zealand: (4) 15
Tries: Hape, Soliola (2)
Goals: Jones
Drops: Jones

Australia stunned New Zealand with two late converted tries to win the second Tri-Nations match 20-15 in Melbourne.

The Kangaroos led 6-4 at the break after Greg Inglis' impressive solo effort cancelled out a try from Kiwi winger Shontayne Hape.

New Zealand, intent on avenging last week's defeat, scored twice after the break through wing Iosia Soliola.

But as the Kiwis tired, Inglis romped home from his own half before Mark Gasnier struck in the dying minutes.

The football's in us, but we've got to improve from that effort tonight Australia coach Ricky Stuart

Scrum-half Johnathan Thurston kicked four goals as New Zealand playmaker Stacey Jones, whose drop-goal gave the Kiwis a 15-8 lead with eight minutes left, missed two kicks.

Australia beat defending champions New Zealand 30-18 in the opening match of the tournament in Auckland last week.

But Australian coach Ricky Stuart said: "The only real highlight for us tonight was the character in the team of having that ability to fight back, to be quite honest.

"We've got a lot to work on. When I say we've got a lot to work on, the football's in us, but we've got to improve from that effort tonight.

"They were better than last week and we didn't lift our standard from what we set last week, that's the disappointing part."

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan said: "We're disappointed but if you put it in context I can see us getting better with each game."

The visitors dominated the early exchanges, pinning Australia back in their own half with aggressive defence and tactical kicking.

The opening came in the seventh minute when Bradford Bulls winger Hape muscled his way over in the right corner.

Stacey Jones missed his kick at goal but the score seemed to energise Australia.

Jones' break sparked New Zealand's second try

The Kangaroos thought they had scored when wing Matt King crossed in the right corner, only to be denied by a Gasnier knock-on.

On 18 minutes the Kiwis nearly pulled off a carbon copy of their first try but Soliola fumbled the ball near the line.

Australia were easing their way back in and were inches from equalising when King's second touchdown was ruled out for a foot in touch after good scrambling defence from New Zealand.

But the Kangaroos made amends shortly before the break when Inglis produced a piece of individual brilliance, breaching New Zealand on the 30m line and storming home alone.

Johnathan Thurston kicked the goal to give the home side the lead, and a physiological boost at the break.

But New Zealand upped the ante in the second period when inspirational half-back Jones dummied his way through the Australia defence, gaining 20 metres.

The ball reached Soliola on the right wing and the 20-year-old used his long reach to ground the ball over the line.

Thurston's penalty goal drew Australia level at 8-8 but the Kiwis went ahead again inside the last 20 minutes when Soliola seized on a bouncing ball, stripped from Hape's grasp, to run in his second.

Jones added the extra points but Australia came charging back and thought they had scored when Karmichael Hunt sliced through a gap in the Kiwis' line, only for the video referee to spot an obstruction.

Jones' drop-goal inside the last 10 minutes looked to be enough to keep the Australians at bay but with five minutes left Inglis stunned the Kiwis with a scintillating burst down the left flank from inside this own half to score under the posts.

Thurston's goal brought the Kangaroos back to within one point, and the home side rode the rising tide to send over Gasnier after a break from Hunt with just minutes left.

The next match in the competition is New Zealand against Great Britain in Christchurch on 28 October.

Australia: Hunt, King, Gasnier, Hodges, Inglis, Lockyer, Thurston, Mason, Smith, Civoniceva, Ryan, Hindmarsh, O'Donnell.
Reserves: O'Meley, Berrigan, Tupou, Kite.