The handling skills of Keven Mealamu and the All Blacks were better than those of the Wallabies © Getty Images

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Israel Folau was among the best Wallabies with ball in hand © Getty Images

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James Horwill lamented the Wallabies' sloppy handling as a key reason for their 41-33 defeat by a merciless All Blacks side in the pulsating third Bledisloe Cup Test at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Both teams produced moments of brilliance in a free-flowing Test in front of a near-sellout crowd of 28,973 fans, but handling errors and some sloppy breakdown work by the Wallabies meant their high points were too few and far between as the All Blacks swept the series 3-0 to ice their 11th consecutive cup win.

"The turnover rate was too high," Wallabies captain Horwill said.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said his side had improved on their previous two Tests against the world champions, and his players were starting to express themselves, "but obviously until you win these games you're never going to be happy".

The game looked dead and buried as early as the 47th minute, with the All Blacks leading 33-19 and attacking a broken Wallabies line. But Tevita Kuridrani intercepted a pass from Julian Savea and dashed away to put midfield partner Matt Toomua over the try line to narrow the margin to seven points.

The fightback didn't last.

Kieran Read crossed in the 53rd minute, after a superb team build-up that epitomised their four tries, and the All Blacks captain said that he felt his side always had the game under control.

"The way they got in the game in that first half was through our ill-discipline," he said. "We felt that every time we got down their end we were getting some points so it was about building momentum."

The Wallabies weren't without their chances, though.

Six times in the opening 30 minutes, the visitors gave away possession while attacking near the All Blacks' 22 - two mistakes made uncharacteristically by Will Genia, who was celebrating his 50th Test.

"It doesn't really matter who turns it over, the fact is that the team's doing it and letting the pressure off," Horwill said.

"In the end we let them off the hook."

Kieran Read produced another immense performance © Getty Images

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