New Zealand defeated a vastly-improved South Africa 19-11 to retain their Tri-Nations crown on Saturday.
The All Blacks, who had humiliated South Africa 52-16 in Pretoria last month, were made to work far harder in a bruising encounter between the two fiercest rivals in international rugby.
New Zealand fly-half Carlos Spencer proved the difference between the sides, slotting four vital penalties while his South African opposite number Louis Koen had an off-day with the boot.
Koen missed two penalties as well as three drop-goal attempts as South Africa struggled to capitalise on an immense forward effort, with their back-row forwards led by skipper Corne Krige outstanding.
The Springboks had been written off as no-hopers going into the match but rediscovered their fabled forward power to put New Zealand under pressure in the close-quarters battle.
No.8 Juan Smith and the impressive openside Joe van Niekerk frequently breached the gain line, providing South Africa with forward momentum and denying New Zealand’s skilful backs time and space.
But the match began ominously for South Africa as New Zealand scored after five minutes with a try that owed eveything to the vision of inside centre Aaron Mauger.
Mauger’s perfectly weighted grubber kick caught South Africa’s defence on the turn, and flying Fijian wing Joe Rokocoko beat the cover to touch down for his 11th try in only six internationals.
Spencer converted but South Africa responded brilliantly after quarter of an hour with an unlikely solo effort from tight-head prop Richard Bands.
Bands broke clear from a ruck 40 metres out and barrelled down the touchline before battering aside Spencer’s cover tackle to score in the corner.
Koen missed the conversion but was on target later in the half as he and Spencer traded two penalties each.
The dynamic effort by South Africa’s van Niekerk and Smith was backed up by formidable displays from locks Victor Matfield and Geo Cronje, looking more than comfortable on his debut.
Crucially though South Africa were unable to get their noses in front, Koen missing an opportunity to give South Africa a psychologically useful 14-13 half-time lead when he fluffed a penalty just before the break New Zealand started the second half vigorously, but were kept at bay by South Africa’s forwards.
Spencer extended New Zealand’s lead to 16-11 with his third penalty, and handed the All Blacks an eight-point cushion with his fourth going into the last 20 minutes.
Spencer almost conjured up a try for lock Ali Williams with a fabulous late break only for wing Stefan Terblanche to snuff out the move with a covering tackle. – Sapa-AFP