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Tries:
D. C. Howlett
Penalty Goals:
D. W. Carter (5),
C. J. Spencer
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Tries:
J. Cronjé,
J. de Villiers,
P. F. Du Preez
Conversions:
P. C. Montgomery (3)
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Match Report:
Earlier this week, New Zealand's Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition finally agreed on something - an All Blacks Test is worth speeding for. Let's hope they were in fifth gear for this one: All Blacks 23 - South Africa 21.
Right from the outset of tonight's Philips Tri Nations clash in Christchurch, rugby optimists had a page added to their guidebook after the unfancied Springboks scored in the opening minute of the match.
All Black openside Marty Holah returning the kick-off strongly but, with halfback Justin Marshall nowhere in sight behind the forming ruck, the South Africans help themselves and spin the ball blindside, where winger Jean de Villiers slides over.
Fullback Percy Montgomery converts and it's 7-0.
The uneven start continues for the All Blacks, who collect Springbok Captain John Smit's first lineout, yet lose their own throw shortly afterwards. Hooker Keven Mealamu also oozing claret early.
With a swag of possession, the match comes alive for the homeside in the eighth minute as second five-eighths Dan Carter sells a dummy and flicks the ball to Jerry Collins on the burst - but the scrambling Bok defence drags down Doug Howlett 15 metres upfield, and the movement ends with a penalty 23m out.
Carter's attempt is away off the right-hand upright, but he makes no mistakes with his second a minute later as the Springbok defence continues to camp offside.
A second Carter penalty in the 15th minute reduces the deficit to 7-6, and when he nails his third shortly afterwards the All Blacks hit a 9-7 lead.
Across field kicking and knock-ons from both teams ensure some messy rugby follows. And this time, the Springboks put an end to it...
22 year-old halfback Fourie du Preez breaking from a touchline scrum 1m inside the New Zealand half. His chip ahead is a shocker, but veteran flanker AJ Venter tidies up and fires a slick pass for No 8 Jacques Cronje to cross in that same left-hand corner.
Montgomery, the only current player to have tasted victory over the All Blacks, converts from the sideline and at 14-9, the Springboks are back in front.
Carter responds with his fourth penalty in the 30th minute, but that man Montgomery continues to prove a Springbok rugby renaissance maybe more than a rumour - his break into space midfield sparking a movement that sees centre Marius Joubert and blindside Schalk Burger combine for du Preez to score his first test try in the (you guessed it) left-hand corner.
Again, Montgomery's sideline conversion is sweet and the Springboks head to the sheds in front of a stunned Jade Stadium crowd.
Five minutes into the second 40 and the All Blacks rugby is still unstructured, despite a massive 74% dominance in possession.
Conversely, the South African defence continues to grow in confidence.
The best opportunity thus far comes in the 46th when Doug Howlett is given acres to move out to the right, but his kick ahead sits favourably for Montgomery, who bounces off hooker Keven Mealamu as the Springboks recover.
Then a huge drive in the 52nd minutes as the black pack shift all the way into the Springbok 22, but more offside play denies them a chance for quick second-phase ball. Instead, Carter settles for his fifth penalty almost directly in front.
21-15, and All Blacks coach Graham Henry heads to his bench to replace lock Simon Maling with Ali Williams. But AJ Venter continues to have a huge game in the loose as halfback du Preez threatens to outshine the veteran Marshall in his first ever match against the All Blacks.
No change in the score.
Fifteen minutes to go and Henry turns to his bench once more: Sam Tuitupou replacing Carter and Byron Kelleher on for Marshall.
But more knock-ons and huge Springbok defence put paid to All Blacks chances until they turn the South African pack to win a scrum 5m out from the tryline.
Crucial play: the ball comes left and Tuitupou hits the line at pace, but Springbok first-five Jaco van der Westhuyzen is equal to the task before referee Andrew Cole pings second-five De Wet Barry for hands in the ruck. With Carter off, Carlos Spencer converts his side's sixth penalty of the night.
21-18, and as Kelleher bursts upfield from the restart the crowd at Jade Stadium rise to their feet. What the All Blacks need is a try. What they get in the 73rd minute is another penalty for offside play.
Spencer steps up, drilling the ball into that same left-hand corner that was so good to the visitors in the first 40. But Meeuws can't hang-on to the lineout tap-down from Jerry Collins.
A minute later, Collins finds space blindside, and feeds the ball to Rokocoko who is dragged into touch by prop Os du Randt.
Then a moment of Springbok madness: a long lineout throw 5m out from their own line that the backline fails to control. An All Blacks scrum centrefield. But the pill is turned over and South Africa look to spin it from their own line - the ball bobbling in-goal with Tana Umaga closing in until Breyton Paulse calmly collects and clears.
Umaga bursts up the middle from the resulting lineout. Mealamu drives. Jack. Collins. 15 phases that take them within 6m of the line before Spencer sends the ball wide to Muliaina, to Howlett... who finally puts that neglected right-hand corner to use for a try in the 79th minute.
Spencer's conversion attempt on the hooter is well-wide, but it's still Bok heartbreak for a South African side who were just seconds away from their first win against the All Blacks in four years, not to mention their first victory in Christchurch since 1965.
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