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Cory Jane of New Zealand (R) is tackled by Juan de Jongh of South Africa - Source: Reuters -
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The All Blacks have stolen a dramatic 29-22 win in the Tri Nations Test at Soweto this morning.
New Zealand was trailing by 22-17 with just four minutes to go but back-to-back tries from Richie McCaw and Israel Dagg secured the famous victory and the All Blacks 10th Tri Nations title to boot.
But it has to be said that McCaw's try was laced with controversy. Dagg took a quick tap and clearly threw the ball forward to Mils Muliaina but the officials let play go on.
Then at the end of the passage, McCaw received a ball from Cory Jane and despite looking like he had got a foot into touch, after a long deliberation from the TMO, the try was awarded.
Carter missed the conversion and that made it 22-22 with one minute to go but then the All Blacks, with McCaw right in the thick of it, scored a huge turnover from the kick-off. Ma'a Nonu ripped through the defensive line, fending off a feeble effort from John Smit, and ironically it was Dagg who was there to steal the win.
The Springboks will most definitely feel aggrieved though. A
number of the 50/50 calls went against them but to the All Blacks
credit they never gave up.
A shonky display from Daniel Carter's boot (5/9) didn't help
circumstances either and the kick-off reception, particularly from
Tom Donnelly, was poor.
McCaw though, who this morning equalled Sean Fitzpatrick as the All
Blacks longest serving captain with 51 Tests in charge, was at his
imperious best. He ripped into his work and was yet again the thorn
to the South African side.
The Springboks' loose forward trio of Pierre Spies, Juan Smith,
Schalk Burger were just as good though and ultimately were the
difference in the South Africans leading for much of the Test.
They dominated the gain line on both offence and defence and
while McCaw and Kieran Read did their best to gain parity, the
three South African monsters were everywhere to be seen.
In a frantic opening, the All Blacks were intent on the high-octane
approach that had worked wonders for them in the 2010 season.
The only problem was that the home side were well and truly up for it. Whether it was the emotion of captain John Smit's 100th cap or the 94,000 delirious fans, this Springboks side was a new beast.
They flew into their defensive work like men possessed and rarely let the All Blacks get over the advantage line in the opening 10 minutes.
The hallmark of the South African game, the kick-chase strategy, was conspicuous as ever but Jane and company were up to the task.
The All Blacks may have dominated the opening 20 minutes in terms of possession and territory but a 6-6 score line was indicative of how much this Test meant to the home side.
And it was the Springboks that were the first side to cross the line. Unbelievably Morne Steyn passed up the opportunity for three points on New Zealand's 22 and tapped quickly. The All Blacks (and in fact the whole rugby world) were shocked and never recovered as the Springboks' rolled towards the try-line and it was Schalk Burger who crashed over to open up a 13-6 scoreline.
Two more penalties were traded before the All Blacks once again showed off what can only be dubbed total rugby. It was a young 36-year-old by the name of Brad Thorn who made the initial break and quick ball was required and then delivered. From here it was a simple draw and pass and it was Tony Woodcock who found himself at the end of the line as he strolled over to score.
That made it 16-14 to the Springboks and for the first time this season the All Blacks are trailing at the break.
The second half may have been deficient of points but it was arguably the best 40 minutes of the Tri Nations. Both sides went hammer and tongs at each other, flying into the rucks with venom in true trench war style.
The All Blacks came close on three occasions in the first 35 minutes of the second half to crossing the try line. In the first instance it was Piri Weepu who delivered a perfect cut-out pass to Carter and he cantered down the sideline before a final fend on JP Pietersen saw him bundled over just short of the try-line.
Jane was involved in the next two scoring opportunities, as he showed-off his dazzling footwork and vision down the right side touchline, but on both occasions he was denied by desperate South African defence.
The Springboks, on the other hand, were beginning to unravel.
Steyn kicked dead a few times and missed touch from a penalty, but
a single Carter penalty was all the All Blacks had to show for all
their second half endeavour until the final frantic minutes.
All Blacks 29 (Tony Woodcock 1xtry Richie McCaw
try, Israel Dagg try, Daniel Carter 4xpenalty, 1xconversion)
South Africa 22 (Schalk Burger 1xtry, Morne Steyn
5xpenalty, 1xconversion)
Halftime: South Africa 16-14
