AUSTRALIA, eventing team gold medallists in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, head both the team and individual standings in Olympic eventing after a day of cross-country thrills, spills and surprises at Rio on Monday, topping the teams on 150.3 and with Christopher Burton in pole position in the individual rankings with Santano II.

However New Zealand are stalking them closely going into today's final showjumping phase, just 4.5 penalties adrift, with the French in hot pursuit in overnight bronze a further 6.2 off the pace.