An inspired South Africa gave the All Blacks the fright of their lives by taking a lead into the final minute of the Tri-Nations clash in Christchurch, but Doug Howlett broke South African hearts by sliding over for a last-gasp winning try. The Boks won 3-1 on tries, but the spoils go to the home side who finished the day 23-21 to the good.
It was a thriller as the All Blacks attacked and attacked, battered and battered, and then got it wide to Howlett who scored in the corner to win the match. The Springboks might have scored three tries to one -- but they gave away a heap of penalty.
The victory puts the All Blacks well clear at the top of the Tri-Nations with successive victories, but both at home and each with only a single try.
As against Australia, the All Blacks dominated possession and territory but as against Australia they -- with their much-vaunted back-line -- scored only one try, and that at the death.
The score was 21-18 to the Springboks as the All Black wave broke over the visitors again and again, breaking on the rocks of determined defence till it went wide and there was nobody left to tackle Howlett. It was the All Blacks' only real chance of a try and they took it -- with ecstatic gratitude.
It was a reward for the grip they had on the game but especially on the second half when they kept the Springboks point-less. The All Blacks were aided by a powerful display in the scrums, where the Springboks were expected to dominate, and a penalty count of 13-5 in their favour.
It was icy cold, crisp, wind-free and dry at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.
The Springboks ended the first half leading 21-12, but more significantly three tries to zero.
The first try came before half a minute had run. Jaco van der Westhuyzen kicked off to start. Marty Holah gathered the rolling kick and charged ahead. The All Black forwards gathered, the ball came back and John Smit of South Africa was there to pick up.
He passed to Van der Westhuyzen who passed to De Wet Barry who did a switch with Jean de Villiers. Tackled short De Villiers was able to place the ball for a try in the left corner.
Percy Montgomery converted. 7-0.
Then the All Blacks settled in Springboks territory and garnered penalties. Daniel Carter's first kick bounced back off the upright but then he goaled three in a row to make the score 9-7 to New Zealand.
But the Springboks came back. They won their scrum which disintegrated. Fourie du Preez picked up, put his head down and charged.
He chipped feebly but AJ Venter gathered the ball and got a brilliant pass out to Jacques Cronjé, who had earlier lost the ball three times. This time he caught it and plunged over in that left corner. Again Montgomery converted. 14-9.
Carter responded by adding yet another penalty before the third -- and final -- Bok try. Montgomery countered sharply and with acceleration from a Mils Muliaina kick. Marius Joubert ran strongly past Greg Somerville and got an awkward pass to Schalk Burger who managed to control the ball and get it to Du Preez who went over in the same corner, from which Montgomery goaled again.
In that half the All Blacks came fairly close once but were well tackled. The Springboks had a gilt-edged chance when Cronjé knocked on with a four-to-one opportunity.
In the second half Carter kicked two more penalties and then when he went off Carlos Spencer kicked one. That made it 21-18 with 11 minutes to go.
The Springboks were close-ish on two occasions, both from Breyton Paulse chips. On the first occasion they were close to getting a five-metre scrum as Muliaina took the ball back for the touch down and once when Joe Rokocoko beat Paulse to the ball and Paulse was penalised.
Then came the victory attack in which Tana Umaga created a telling break and strong replacement Byron Kelleher was an effective presence in everything.
Two moments had a serious bearing -- the Springbok scrum which the All Blacks wheeled to get the put-in and the long throw the Springboks took at a defensive line-out that went awry and created a scrum to New Zealand, six metres out and slap in front.
Man of the match: Byron Kelleher in his effective quarter of an hour is a candidate as were Kees Meeuws whose scrummaging has been so powerful and meaningful for New Zealand, Chris Jack who was great at line-outs and with ball in hand, Joe Rokocoko who made things out of bits and pieces, Mils Muliaina looked to run whenever possible and Keven Mealamu who does not stop. Percy Montgomery meant much to the Springboks and Jaco van der Westhuyzen had probably his best match at fly-half. But our Man of the Match is all-action Schalk Burger who had a huge effect on the match and was certainly the dominant loose forward on the field, just shading strong AJ Venter.
Moment of the Match: All four tries were glittering moments against a black backdrop. The brightest pair were early and late -- the Springboks' try in the first minute and the All Blacks' in the last. But the Moment of the Match was doubtless the last moment as the ball went from Kelleher to Spencer. He sent a long pass to Mils Muliaina with Brent Russell coming at him. Muliaina gave the sweetest of passes to Doug Howlett who surfed over in the victorious corner.
Villain of the Match: None, because it was hard but well-mannered, though two penalties for high tackles by De Wet Barry brings him closest to villainy.
The Teams:
New Zealand: 1 Greg Somerville, 2 Keven Mealamu, 3 Kees Meeuws, 4 Chris Jack, 5 Simon Maling, 6 Jerry Collins, 7 Marty Holah, 8 Xavier Rush, 9 Justin Marshall, 10 Carlos Spencer, 11 Doug Howlett, 12 Daniel Carter, 13 Tana Umaga (c), 14 Joe Rokocoko, 15 Mils Muliaina
Reserves: Ali Williams, Byron Kelleher, Sam Tuitupou
Unused: Nick Evans, Andrew Hore, Craig Newby, Tony Woodcock
South Africa 1 Eddie Andrews, 2 John Smit (c), 3 Os Du Randt, 4 Bakkies Botha, 5 Albert Van Den Bergh, 6 A.J. Venter, 7 Schalk Burger Jr., 8 Jacques Cronje, 9 Fourie Du Preez, 10 Jaco Van Der Westhuyzen, 11 Jean De Villiers, 12 De Wet Barry, 13 Marius Joubert, 14 Breyton Paulse, 15 Percy Montgomery
Reserves: Faan Rautenbach, Brent Russell, Joe Van Niekerk
Unused: Danie Coetzee, Bolla Conradie, Quinton Davids, Gaffie Du Toit
Attendance: 34000
Referee: Cole a.
Points Scorers:
New Zealand
Tries: Howlett D.C. 1
Pen K.: Carter D.W. 5, Spencer C.J. 1
South Africa
Tries: De Villiers J. 1, Du Preez P.F. 1, Cronje J. 1
Conv: Montgomery P.C. 3
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