Australia have dispatched NZ Kiwis to book their place in the Pacific Championship men's final with a clinical 22-10 win at Christchurch.
Probably short of a gallop, the home side will be better for the outing, with the world champion Kangaroos improving from their series opener against Tonga nine days earlier.
Missing several injured stars and fielding a makeshift spine, New Zealand stayed competitive and closed within a converted try with 16 minutes remaining, before Aussie five-eighth Mitch Moses sealed the result with a long range effort against an exhausted defence.
The Kiwis overwhelmed their archrivals with a record 30-0 scoreline in last year's tournament final, but only seven of those players were available this time.
Australia had the first real chance, when winger William Warbrick was tested with a high kick and centre Matt Timoko was penalised for obstruction on the pursuers. The Kiwis were marched 10 metres to within a few of the tryline, when the call was questioned, and second-rower Angus Crichton crossed from the ensuing set.
Replays confirmed the ball slipped from his grasp as he forced it and the try was wiped.
Winger Zac Lomax chased a high kick from Moses and beat Kiwis fullback Keano Kini to the ball, but his despairing offload found grass and was smothered by the defence.
Slowly, the home side began to force errors from their rivals. Veteran half Shaun Johnson forced a goal-line dropout and the restart found touch on the full, but the chance was squandered, when an offload went to the Aussies.
Against the run of play, Kangaroos prop Lindsay Collins broke a Kini’s midfield tackle and galloped 40 metres to score the first try.
New Zealand stuck to their task and had their reward, when Johnson ran on the last tackle, and quick hands from Isaiah Papali’i and Kini created space for winger Jamayne Isaako in the corner. The scorer then converted his own try from the sideline.
With halftime looming, centre Tommy Trbojevic made a break and sent Lomax hurtling down the touchline, where he overpowered Kini to score in the corner. Lomax missed the sideline conversion, but slotted a penalty in the final seconds before the break.
After the restart, the Kiwis went on the front foot, with Johnson forcing another goal-line dropout. Another attacking kick hit the uprights and created confusion in the Kangaroos defence, with Crichton knocking on and fullback Dylan Edwards eventually forcing for another dropout.
Isaakao claimed the short kick, but Timoko was held up over the tryline. When Johnson kicked to the corner, Warbrick was impeded in his chase, winning a penalty.
Johnson again had the Aussies rattled with another high kick that bounced off winger Xavier Coates and was gathered by Reuben Cotter in an offside position. Ultimately, Isaako was tackled into touch, as he flew for the corner.
By comparison, the Kangaroos were more efficient at converting their chances. Lomax had a second try, when he accepted a backhanded offload from hooker Harry Grant and was too powerful for second-rower Scott Sorenson.
The Kiwis did not go away and Johnson kicked across the field for Warbrick, who spun past Lomax for their second try.
Still within a converted try, the Kiwis finally saw their hopes slip away, when Edwards broke from long range and sent Moses away for the clincher.
Recalled from retirement, Johnson's kicking kept his team in the game, but new coach Stacey Jones may rethink his halves combination with specialist fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad next week against Tonga. Kini ran more than 200 metres on debut, but his size was exposed, when he missed two tackles that resulted in tries.
"Australia were too good tonight, but I thought it was a step in the right direction," said Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris. "We've got a younger team this year, but everyone attacked it and there were some good signs.
"Some good signs, but a lot to work on and we'll come up against a red hot Mate Ma'a Tonga team."
Australia 22 (Lomax 2, Collins & Moses tries; Lomax 2 conversions & penalty) NZ 10 (Isaako & Warbrick tries; Isaako conversion)
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