The Wallabies' wait to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup will continue for another year after they failed to end their winless drought at Eden Park, falling to the All Blacks in heartbreaking fashion 33-24.

The Australians needed victory in Auckland before the second Test in Perth early next month to keep alive their chances of securing the trans-Tasman trophy, which the All Blacks have held for 23 years.

It also meant they surrendered their one-point lead at the top of the Rugby Championship standings, with New Zealand the new leaders.

The Wallabies clawed their way back to trail by two points with 11 minutes left in the match, but that was as close as they came.

While they were guilty of some costly errors, their quest wasn't helped by some bewildering decisions by Italian referee Andrea Piardi, who pinged the Australians 14 times.

Piardi was also the whistle-blower for the second British and Irish Lions Test at the MCG, when he made a crucial call not to penalise the tourists for foul play before their match-winning try.

With the Australians down a man with winger Harry Potter given a yellow card, star halfback Cam Roigard scored his second try in the 75th minute to seal the result.

Looking for their first win at the famous rugby graveyard since 1986, the Australians struggled in the opening exchanges and were down 5-0 after three minutes with All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke crossing.

With the home side controlling the tempo, the Wallabies struggled for field position and possession with their challenge going up a notch with halfback Tate McDermott assisted from the field with a hamstring injury after 18 minutes.

Ryan Lonergan came on for his Wallabies debut and after a shaky start looked right at home on the Test stage.

Tries to Leroy Carter and Roigard saw the men in gold down by 20-3 but in what has become their trademark fashion they kept their resolve and built their way back into the match.

Centre Len Ikitau had a major hand in both tries, with hooker Billy Pollard crossing before he threw a no-look pass for Harry Potter to touch down.

That closed the margin to 20-17 at halftime but the home side, gunning for their 52nd successive Test win at Eden Park, again took control early in the second half.

A crooked lineout throw by Pollard and then an unforgivable error by James O'Connor, failing to find touch, put the visitors on the back foot.

Instead of the Wallabies attacking the line, they instead gave up a penalty down the other end, with Damian McKenzie, who replaced injured flyhalf Beauden Barrett, making Australia pay.

The Wallabies mauled the ball across the line through Carlo Tizzano in the 68th minute for a 24-22 scoreline.

But the hosts, who suffered a record defeat to South Africa in their last outing, had the last say through Roigard.