Last week I said that the Wallabies could win the Tri-Nations after their opening victory against South Africa, and they now sit top of the table after a brilliant 34-19 win over the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday.

Robbie Deans’ side are four points ahead of their rivals with a game in hand and have the momentum to go on and win the series. It won’t be easy for them, but if they can follow up their home victories by winning away, it’s their title for the taking.

All the pre-tournament talk was about whether South Africa were the best side in the world and could they defeat the All Blacks. Even some members of the Australian press wrote off the Wallabies’ chances of winning, but they’re now unbeaten in five Tests under Deans and it’s not likely to stop there.

Saturday's game wasn’t helped by some atrocious refereeing decisions, on a par with some of the howlers seen in football’s Premier League, and the ELVs made the game worse, with too many penalties given at the breakdown. The line-outs were awful, and the scrummaging more so. It’s often said that Southern Hemisphere rugby is ahead of its rivals in the north, but the Northern Hemisphere’s resistance to trialling the ELVs can be partly justified following this game

Australia outplayed New Zealand, taking an early 10-0 lead with some great work by Matt Giteau, and surviving an early second-half comeback that saw the All Blacks sneak into a 19-17 lead as Andy Ellis went over and the kick was converted by Dan Carter, but the All Blacks never looked like winning.

The second half was a strange one. Scrum-half Ellis was taken off by coach Graham Henry in the 45th minute only to come back around 15 minutes later for Jimmy Crown – a move which could only have been allowed if Ellis was temporarily replaced to receive treatment for a blood injury, which clearly wasn’t the case. This means New Zealand can now expect an investigation from the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The Wallabies controlled the final quarter of the game and New Zealand had no answer to their creativity,

Many New Zealanders believed Deans to be the man to take over from Graham Henry after their exit at the World Cup, but he lost out to Henry and could be the man to inflict an almost unprecedented third consecutive defeat on the All Blacks if Australia win in Auckland on Saturday.

New Zealand are desperate without Richie McCaw at the breakdown and news that he is only 50-50 to recover from an ankle strain isn’t a great deal of relief to Henry, who is having a torrid time as coach. The experienced Wallabies’ back row was too powerful, too quick and ultimately too clever for the patched-up All Blacks back row, as they gave away possession too easily for comfort.

On this form, it’s difficult to see New Zealand retaining the Tri-Nations ahead of difficult games in Auckland and Brisbane against the Wallabies either side of a trip to Cape Town to take on South Africa. With McCaw back there is a chance, a slim chance that they can turn it around and perhaps save Henry’s career with New Zealand.

It’s between Australia and South Africa, and as I said last week, I fully expect the consistency of Australia to prevail. They’re playing well as a team and their current form and solid home record will ultimately win them the Tri-Nations.