The Wallabies started fast, but ran out of steam against the All Blacks in Wellington, losing 33-13 to end a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign.
The Wallabies won just a single game in the tournament, finishing bottom of the ladder in new coach Joe Schmidt's first tournament in charge.
The Wallabies kept the ball in hand and attacked from deep, putting the All Blacks on the back foot.
However, despite that bright start, familiar failings plagued the Wallabies, who looked shaky in one-on-one defence and, when the game was running away from them, ill-disciplined in defence.
The confidence hard-earned in the second half display in Sydney fast evaporated, with the All Blacks simply brutal an incisive in attack, led by slippery fullback Will Jordan.
"That's not the result we wanted," Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said.
"I thought our first 40 was really good. We showed up, we started fast but we struggled with possession in the second half."
[SUMMARY]An early try for Fraser McReight got the fast-starting Wallabies on the board early after an inventive and determined start.
Sevu Reece crossed with the All Blacks' first attacking use of the ball soon after, with Will Jordan also scoring after ghosting through the line.
However, two penalty goals from Noah Lolesio had the Wallabies ahead 13-12 as the clock ticked over 40 minutes at the end of the first half.
The Wallabies conceded a Caleb Clarke try just before the break through to head into half-time with a 19-13 lead.
They never looked back.
Dylan Pietsch, who made his starting debut, told Channel Nine: "It's hard to be a great team if you turn the ball over."
And the Wallabies regularly coughed up possession, handing the All Blacks the advantage.
Tamaiti Williams and Clarke scored tries in the second half and some stern defence from the hosts kept the Wallabies at bay, and scoreless in the second half.
"We didn't start too well but I'm really pleased with how we finished," All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said.
"There was some real grit in defence there in the way we held out the Aussies."
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
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