Stalemate: Wallabies secure unlikely draw against All Blacks in gripping Bledisloe Cup opener

The Ian Foster-Sam Cane All Blacks era started on a nervous note with a dramatic draw that stretched nine minutes into added time and could easily have gone either way.

Test rugby's return was supposed to be a celebration. Instead on a wet and blustery Wellington day, in-front of 31,020 and many empty yellow seats, the All Blacks escaped with a draw after Jordie Barrett nailed a 79th minute penalty to earn a face-saving stalemate.

When wing Filipo Daugunu crossed on debut for the visitor's second try, to draw level at 13-13 after 63 minutes, the Wallabies dared to dream of their first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand since 2001.

They had their chances to seal that result, too, after Rieko Ioane dropped the ball over the line just before half time.

James O'Connor slotted a 73rd minute penalty to give the Wallabies the lead, and it seemed they may hold on from there, but much more drama was yet to unfold.

Barrett, after missing a penalty from 40 metres out moments early, made no mistake with the attempt to level the scores.

Reece Hodge had one final long range crack from 53 metres out to steal victory but he hit the posts. Caleb Clarke, who made a big impact off the bench, bobbled the rebound and the Wallabies launched a late assault on the All Blacks line.

The All Blacks held firm, managing to snaffle a turnover and earn a penalty. They kicked down field, lost the lineout, got the ball back and probably should have scored the match-winner while hammering away at the Wallabies line.

Rather than remain composed and pick and go a few more times the All Blacks flung the ball out to Barrett, who had to dive to catch the wayward pass. The ball was turned over from the resulting ruck, and O'Connor kicked it into touch to end a frantic finish.

Starting their own new era under Dave Rennie, the former successful New Zealand under-20s, Wellington and Chiefs mentor, the Wallabies will take great heart from a performance in which they went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks throughout.

Rennie's influence was evident in the work-rate Wallabies forward pack.

The Wallabies will certainly be more pleased of the two teams in what was a largely scrappy spectacle.