Opening try: Israel Dagg
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New Zealand took one step closer to claiming the Rugby Championship title after seeing off South Africa 21-11 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.
The All Blacks, unbeaten in 14 Tests, outscored the Springboks two tries to one for a win that sees them take a commanding lead in the competition.
It certainly wasn't the best performance by the home side and they can count themselves lucky to come away with four points after South Africa blew several scoring opportunities - particularly in goal-kicking - that could have seen the match end in their favour.
Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn and Johan Goosen managed only two of nine attempts between them, whilst the visitors also let three chances slip with the try-line begging.
Indeed, this was a Test the Boks could have and should have won. Instead, South Africa's woeful kicking display and questionable tactics eventually proved costly and now leave New Zealand empty-handed after Aaron Cruden denied the visitors a losing bonus-point thanks to his successful penalty kick on full-time.
South Africa drew first blood when Morne Steyn raised the flags for the first and only time on 18 minutes after his namesake Francois had missed earlier from long range and Bryan Habana failed to hold an awkward pass with the line open.
The All Blacks struck back immediately though. Hooker Andrew Hore put in some hard yards before a beautiful offload from number eight Kieran Read set speedster Israel Dagg - who also handled four times in the movement - away for the opening try. Cruden missed the conversion, but the All Blacks were in front (5-3).
The two Steyns then missed three penalties between them, including a regulation shot from the Bok number ten on the stroke of half-time that could've put his team in front at the break.
But it was New Zealand who held the slender lead, even though the Springboks had 58 per cent territory and forced six turnovers from the All Blacks while conceding two.
South Africa came out firing in the second forty, but once again squandered points after Habana lost the ball on the run with the try-line in sight while Zane Kirchner's drop attempt missed the posts.
They finally broke through when Habana produced a moment of genius, chipping over the top and gathering for a super try - Morne Steyn missed the conversion, but the Boks were in front and deservedly so (5-8).
Cruden levelled the scores with a successful penalty (8-8) and then converted another sensational solo try - this time from replacement half-back Aaron Smith who dummied and sidestepped through the defence from 25 metres out.
Disaster then struck for the men in green and gold when replacement prop Dean Greyling was binned for taking out All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw. It was a night to forget for the Bulls prop, who also coughed the ball up with the try-line beckoning in the dying minutes and conceded a string of penalties.
Down to 14 players, South Africa's kicking woes spread to a third player when replacement Johan Goosen missed from halfway but he kept the game alive going into the final 10 minutes with a successful effort to make it 15-11.
But two penalty calls handed Cruden a pair of three-pointers that he made no mistake with to deny South Africa a bonus-point and make it four wins from four for New Zealand.
Man of the match: For South Africa, Duane Vermeulen was rock-solid while try-scorer Bryan Habana injected plenty of pace into the backline. However, it's hard to look beyond the inspirational performance from All Blacks captain Richie McCaw who gave as good as he received in the forward exchanges.
Moment of the match: Habana's touchdown was certainly one for the highlights reel, but replacement scrum-half Aaron Smith - dropped to the bench for a breach of team protocol last weekend - turned disgrace into triumph when he came off the bench to score New Zealand's decisive try.
Villain of the match: We seriously doubt we'll see Dean Greyling in a Bok jersey again after his error-prone and ill-disciplined 30 minutes on the field... oh, make that 20 minutes on the field - he spent 10 in the bin for his assault on McCaw.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Dagg, A Smith
Cons: Cruden
Pens: Cruden 2
For South Africa:
Try: Habana
Pens: M Steyn, Goosen
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Tamati Ellison.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
By Dave Morris
Comments
rolf says...
I love to eat my words - that was FAR from a Bok massacre, that was a pretty good SA game which they should and would have won, if Greyling would not have blown it.
well at least a losing bonus point.
Odd enough it was their kicking that let them down.
I was pleased very much with their determenation, though. They basically shut down the best backline on the planet.
And did the old kicking gameapproach rather seldomly.
Once they did and it cost them bitterly: daggs try was a beauty resulting exactly from what the pundits predicted: feed him high ball and he will use it.
Anyway: keep on bokkies, that match was a move in the right direction!
I had some fun.
Posted 21:00 16th September 2012
Bosvark says...
To Mace:
We South African`s are mostly taking it on the chin because we are to ashamed to say anything else! I think we might as well choose 14 forwards and Bryan Habana to make up the team. Do you think Zin Zan Brooke will come out of retiremend to come and kick for us, if we pay him enough?
Posted 17:25 16th September 2012
Bosvark says...
To Mace:
We South African`s are mostly taking it on the chin because we are to ashamed to say anything else! I think we might as well choose 14 forwards and Bryan Habana to make up the team. Do you think Zin Zan Brooke will come out of retiremend to come and kick for us, if we pay him enough?
Posted 17:19 16th September 2012
atg77 says...
Imagine is the boks actually picked their strongest starting 15...
Posted 14:09 16th September 2012
atg77 says...
love the headline
Posted 14:05 16th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
@ 2EyedKiwi - Well the Boks Defence Coach did say earlier in the week that they would feel like they were back at the Highveld under a closed roof.
Only thing is the Bok kickers forgot that it was -25 degrees and that they were at sea level.
Posted 11:54 16th September 2012
Trader2 says...
@porridge_time
I think what they mean about "when the AB's are put under pressure" is that they are prevented from running in 4/5 tries each match. Yes they have been put under pressure by both the Argies and Saffa's but still manage to put on twice as many tries as the opposition.
@Trinats you are an idiot, oh hang on I just said that on another post. Who needs bonus points when a rabble like the Wannabies are in the same competition?
Posted 11:27 16th September 2012
KiwiLad says...
Trinats, am unsure how many times Abs ahave played 14 in RC.
Its just not a statistic that concearns me.
Why are players so stupid when they play the ABs??
I do know how many games the ABs have won in this tournament, all of those they played in.
How many games have Aus won??
You told me some time ago that Quade Cooper was the best 10 on the planet, what say you now??
Cruden (our 2nd best 10) had an ordinary game, and was far superior to the lad from Queensland.
Posted 11:22 16th September 2012
tuffnut says...
Congratulations to the Men in Black!
I was very happy with the AB forward play yesterday especially Romano with his line-out steals/pressure, ball carrying, and solid defense, and not to forget Messam, and McCaw in the loose. And Dagg is having a blinder RC so far.
It wasn't pretty to watch at times, but was one hell of a battle and both teams will come away with positives and will be better for it in the long run. HM's selection of forwards seem to have paid dividends and will be even more formidable once Bismarck is back. Will be great to see how the same team performs with JP Pietersen, Bismark, and Goosen. Something to look forward too.
I'd have to agree with Sean Fitzpatrick's comments yesterday that Safas seem tougher on their coaches than us Kiwis. You could really hear the stress in HM voice in the pre-match interview.
This is what makes me laugh about Aussies, Kiwis, and Safas, we might be rated in the top 3 in the world in rugby, but unless we're number 1, the world just ain't right! We want to fire our coaching staff and or rugby management until we're back at the top again. hahaha
I'd have to disagree with all the calls for Pretorius to come into the Bok squad. As much as I'm a big fan of the incredible plays he can create out of nothing, this is often offset by average defense at times and poor decision making which IMO outweighs the good.
I'm confident the ABs will tighten up their back-line work. Remember this is just the first season for the young combo of A Smith & A Cruden within the ABs and despite the sometimes questionable options should come right with fine tuning and experience. Let's not forget that despite this the ABs have continued to grind out back-to-back wins against some of the toughest opposition in the world.
Looking forward to the rematch in SA, should be a cracker!!
Posted 11:08 16th September 2012
kiwilad says...
Those referring to McCaw as McCheat should have a rethink.
Yes he pushes the laws to the limit in order to understand the refereees interpretation.
But he does not touch a ball on its way into touch, and then calaim he had not..
(Brian Habana)
Nor does he dive like a primadonna, ( FRANkie goes to hollywood Steyn)
Posted 10:52 16th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
isthatrightref :
"freaking aussies" ??? Where did that come from ?
If you don't like it here why don't you P off back home ? Oh wait, you don't have electricity in NZ, how could you watch TV !!!
How many games in the RC have ABs played against 14 players, 3 games or all 4 ? and still can't get a bonus ?
Posted 10:10 16th September 2012
hellovanite says...
To be honest I think all the teams are quite close in the forwards. The Boks will foot it with any team in world rugby and more times than not they will come out on top. The Argies also have the ammunition to make teams pay they just need to make better decisions from 1 to 15. SA just need to tweek their backline and when players like pretorious, Goosen, Pietersen, Basson and Aplon in there. Brussow must also get another shot. Australia will continue to develop I was really impressed by Douglas. They are not as far away from where they want to be as some think.
Posted 00:37 16th September 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
Only a couple of magical touches by Read and A Smith, and unusually poor place kicking by the Saffas, was the difference in this game. Both teams sound on defensive, but rudderless on attack.
@Ramage. Spot on about Foster. As a Waikato man, I spent the early 90's enjoying Fosters (and Mitchells) leadership of the Waikato team. Seems that both make poor coachs.
@Ben7. So you condone Greylings cheapshot? You are pathetic. Is 7 your age, or your IQ?
Posted 00:09 16th September 2012
Ferdie says...
old mccaw - top tackler and most run m of any forward on the field. kieran read quoted as saying that to be captain you have to be the best player in the team - well right now he surely is.
Posted 23:57 15th September 2012
porridge_time says...
I really rate the kiwis - when they are in flow it's beautiful to watch... but when teams put them under pressure they aren't as good as everyone expects.
Sorry but this is such a moronic statement. Yesterday the Boks put the ABs under pressure and they had the metal to pull through... last weekend the Pumas put them under the cosh and they pulled away. All teams are beatable as we have seen in the past, but give credit where its due. This AB side are winning without having really clicked, which in my opinion is not that far away to be honest.
Having said that I would not be surprised to see the Pumas beat both NZ and Aus at home.
Posted 23:48 15th September 2012
isthatrightref says...
Moved into a new house yesterday that doesn't have Foxtel yet (freaking aussies can't even arrange that with a weeks notice!) so only seen the highlights package but HTF did Greyling not get red-carded? Thought that sort of cr@p was what the TMO was supposed to rule on? 6 weeks at least & hopefully never to see a 'bok shirt again.
Shame the 'boks got so close, now HM & co will believe that their "tactics" can work if only they get "better" at them... the sooner they start losing by 20 on a regular basis & go back to playing something resembling rugby the better.
Oh & you can't add up the penalties the 'boks missed & the tries they butchered as had they scored one they may not have been in possession & or position to score the next. That said, AB have used their quota of get-out-of-jail cards for 2012 & need to start putting some tries on the board: maybe a back-to-basics gameplan is needed for the remainder of this comp, work on the fancy stuff in training & try it on the EOYT? Not sure we can blame Foster as the players are pretty much the same as last year, maybe they're missing SBW & taking time to adjust to the different lines Nonu & Conrad run?
Posted 23:30 15th September 2012
Melkiwi says...
Very close game, most thought it will be a blow out but any true ab supporter will know that when it comes to the boks anything can happen. The boks are a great side if they stop kicking. As for that clown, what a disgrace he is came on did jack all but give penalties away and then threw the biggest cheap shot. That man should never be in the bok shirt ever. Everyone knows macaw is a pain in the but at the break down but let's be honest if your 7 is not a pain in the butt then he is not doing his job. But to come in after he had already been cleared out and do a shot like that with the intent to hurt another play then he should get the max penalty!!!!
Posted 23:21 15th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
More NH referee anti-rugby where whistle was winner on the day.
Posted 22:08 15th September 2012
dangerous says...
KiwiJoe says...
Winning games you should have lost is what being champions is all about
Exactly what I was going to say. Australia used to do this to us quite often... Pre 2003
Posted 21:48 15th September 2012
OrangeBoyReserv says...
This was a true old fashion smashfest of a test match between the two greatest rivals in world rugby -!!
I think the defense of both teams was immense, saying that the AB backs were bad is an insult to the collosal defense of the Boks and vice versa with the boks on attack .
Everyone continues to be harsh on the AB -who are still undefeated, NZ knew it would be tighter than media was saying - because this is AB vs Springboks!! The AB may give them a tickle up now and then but usually the games are just like last night - fast and furious .
Posted 21:34 15th September 2012