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Australia shocked New Zealand 34-19 in Sydney to move to the top of the Tri-Nations table.

Tries from Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom and James Horwill secured a bonus point for the Wallabies, who lead the series nine points from the All Blacks and South Africa, both of whom have five and have played a game more.

Mils Muliaina, Andrew Hore and Andrew Ellis crossed for the Kiwis.

Australia began like a house on fire and raced into a 10-0 lead after only 12 minutes as New Zealand seemed to miss captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown, struggling with discipline in defence.

Ever-dangerous wide man Lote Tuqiri powered past three opponents and found dependent fly-half Matt Giteau with a low pass, who helped the ball on to Cross out wide on the left. He touched down with little trouble and Giteau added to his earlier penalty with the conversion.

Although the All Blacks were shell-shocked by the golden onslaught, they were still able to tap into some of their bountiful attacking ability on the counter. Sitiveni Sivivatu was the first to break through the Australia defensive line on halfway and put his side two on two; however he hesitated and full-back Adam Ashley-Cooper smashed into him to prevent the chance.

Another opportunity, this time out wide, was stopped by Ashley-Cooper moments later but still New Zealand attacked, winning a penalty on the left after a fast passing move across the field. It was wasted as they sought to take a quick tap kick.

Australia worked to regain territorial possession and were having a degree of success when a counter led by Muliaina ended with the first All Blacks try, the full-back forcing back Australian scrum-half Luke Burgess to score after good work in between by Ma'a Nonu and Richard Kahui.

Fly-half Dan Carter missed the conversion and seven minutes later, just after the half-hour mark, Australia had an answer. Cross slung a pass out to the left where Ashley-Cooper sent a grubber kick down the line for Tuqiri to chase. The big man was just pushed over by Sivivatu near the try-line, but Hynes was there to pick up and finish it off.

Giteau added two for a 17-5 lead, which would have been a deserved margin at the break but for a last-ditch score from the visitors.

Sivivatu was fed in a central position 10 metres from goal and offloaded to hooker Andrew Hore. If the winger had any doubts about giving the ball to a forward in that position, they were allayed when Hore angled in from the right past three men to cross the line. Carter kicked for a five-point gap at half-time.

And things looked even better for New Zealand when, four minutes into the second period, they took the lead. Carter was the architect, bursting through and past several tackles before he was eventually stopped; Nonu took the ball from him but was dragged down a metre short and when the ball was sent skywards, Ellis leapt, plucked and spun over the line. Carter kicked for 19-17.

As the hour-mark approached it became evident that both sides had contributed to an explosive match and the pace could not last, but no one told New Zealand: with Carter brilliant in midfield, they looked for gaps with greater patience than in the first 40 minutes.

Still, the success of the counter-attack continued with a crucial try for the home team. Tuqiri kicked and chased down the line to force the All Blacks on to the back foot; soon after, just when it seemed that the momentum was lost, forward Elsom exhibited a fabulous turn of pace to slip his man and score past a disbelieving Kiwi defence.

A big decision went Australia's way when Sivivatu's legs were knocked from beneath him by Hynes as he chased the ball over the try-line. South African referee Craig Joubert, in full view of the incident, awarded nothing when a penalty try seemed plausible.

Giteau kicked a sublime drop goal from deep to extend the advantage to two scores and as New Zealand fought in vain to notch up the first of those, another try killed their resistance.

Great driving by Cross then Wycliff Palu, who had been a rock for Australia all night, got the crowd going before Horwill forced his way through and over for the fourth try and bonus point.

Giteau made it five from five with the boot as the Wallabies opened a one-game lead in the Bledisloe Cup, which is played over four games this year.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport