World champions New Zealand were challenged for 50 minutes but still ran in six tries to beat 37-10 Australia in Auckland on Saturday and become the first top tier nation to win 18 consecutive test matches.

Less than a year after becoming the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups and with a much-changed line-up, Steve Hansen's side bolstered their claim to being the greatest ever rugby team.

Julian Savea scored two tries as Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, TJ Perenara and Dane Coles also crossed to help the 2015-16 All Blacks better the record held by the 2013-2014 and 1965-1969 vintages, as well as the 1997-1998 Springboks.