Try time: Sam Whitelock
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The All Blacks completed an impressive clean sweep in the Rugby Championship on Saturday, overcoming South Africa 32-16 at Soccer City on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
In a performance worthy of their status as the top-ranked team in the world, New Zealand weathered an early storm to overturn a half-time deficit and eventually run out comfortable winners.
The result extends the All Blacks' winning streak to 16 consecutive games, moving them within touching distance of the world record.
The Springboks led 16-12 at the break having dominated for most of the first half but were given a lesson in counter attacking to be outscored two tries to one in the opening stanza.
The All Blacks reversed the trend in the second period, adding two more tries while denying their hosts any points to underline their supremacy.
It was a classic case of shifting momentum - while South Africa started with a bang and ended with a whimper, the Kiwis progressively upped the tempo until there was only one team left in the contest.
The much-vaunted Highveld crowd mirrored their team's effort as they made it very clear to the All Blacks they weren't in Auckland anymore in the early stages but the corridors were filled with fans leaving the stadium with ten minutes left on the clock.
As was the case a week ago, Johan Goosen missed his first two attempts at goal but the hosts would nevertheless open the scoring with a rare sight: A South African try from a set-piece move. Willem Alberts bust through the All Black defence before offloading to Jean de Villiers, who showed off some juggling skills but managed to hold on. Bryan Habana was in space outside his skipper and had an easy run in, scoring behind the posts.
Goosen had no problems with the conversion and could further extend the lead to 10 points at the end of the first quarter when Brodie Retallick was penalised for a dangerous tackle.
The All Blacks had hardly ventured into the South African half but took their first chance to score in typical fashion, with a blistering counter-attack from broken play to send lock Sam Whitelock over in the corner.
If the hosts weren't already alerted to the New Zealand's ability to punish their mistakes, they were given a reminder on 35 minutes. Habana came flying up in search of an intercept, it didn't work, and Hosea Gear ghosted through the gap left in the Bok defensive line before offloading to Aaron Smith, who finished. Dan Carter's conversion gave the visitors a lead that made a mockery of the possession and territory stats.
The Boks were dealt another blow as Goosen was forced off injured but replacement fly-half Elton Jantjies held his nerve with his first kick to put South Africa back in front at 13-12.
Jantjies found the target again from 48 metres with the last act of the half to give the hosts a deserved four-point advantage at the interval.
The All Blacks moved back in front almost immediately after the restart however after Jaco Taute missed a tackle on Israel Dagg, who combined with Kieran Read to set up a try for Ma'a Nonu.
Disorganised defending cost the Boks another try as Conrad Smith touched down to put the visitors ten points clear once Carter had added the easy extras.
Two misses from Jantjies suggested the Boks' woes at the kicking tee were far from finished, prompting De Villiers to turn down a shot at goal in favour of chasing a try. And it nearly paid off, but Habana was not able to hang on when presented with a chance in the corner.
The last quarter was one-way traffic. Carter added a neat drop and a penalty to move his team well clear...in more ways than one.
Man of the Match There were a number of candidates in black but the official award went to Kieran Read, who was once again the ultimate example of a complete number eight as his ball skills matched his contribution in the tight exchanges.
Moment of the match: The All Blacks' second try, scored by Aaron Smith, summed up where these teams are at the moment. An instance of a Springbok trying too hard to do something special was punished by a clinical finish. Give All Blacks scraps, and they will feast!
Villian of the match: The 'fans' who left early.
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Try: Habana
Cons: Goosen
Pens: Goosen, Jantjies 2
For New Zealand:
Tries: Whitelock, A. Smith, Nonu, C. Smith
Cons: Carter 3
Pen: Carter
Drop goal: Carter
Yellow card: Dagg (66th min - offside)
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Tamati Ellison.
Referee: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
By Ross Hastie at Soccer City
Comments
ManWarrior says...
Well done Richie, well done AB's. AB's remains the bench mark, for now at least.... Springboks missed 4 or 5 kicks! Missed tackles!?! Is HM the man for the job??? I really thought he was BUT have my doubts. It's painful being a Springbok supporter. I would love to know how the SAFFA talent would perform under an AB administration...look what Plumtree has done with the Sharks and Mitchell (before "loosing" it) with the Lions...Maybe Graham Henry could come give HM some "divine" inspiration..? Go Bokke!!!
Posted 07:34 07th October 2012
cuw3100 says...
Am not very familiar with the SA players so can someone tell me who the substitute prop is? 3 scrums - 3 borings, now that is not worth from a schoolboy let alone an international test cap.
Also not familiar with the commentator who was talking crap. When he said the AB player had knocked on (maybe like 72 odd minutes) near the try line at ruck. Seriously how can it be an AB knock on when the ball is knocked on by a SA player.
Posted 06:06 07th October 2012
startledwombat says...
Thanks PR and comments board regulars for the write-up and your comments as due to Australia's free-to-air anti-siphoning rules this match won't be broadcast here so I haven't seen it and will have to rely on a Red Cross parcel from NZ or SA. Looking forward to it.
Summarising so far:
Territory: SA 55%
Possession: SA 59%
Tackles made by SA: 36 (compared to 180 last week)
Number of Brad Thorns on the field: 0
Number of Suzies serving coffee prior to the game: 0
A great win in Johannesberg. Clever stuff by Mr Hansen to emphasise that this was the game that would make the difference between 'good' and 'great'.
Posted 05:40 07th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
the fact that Richie McCaw is the greatest rugby player of all time was confirmed. what an unbelievable period of rugby we are witnessing from this all blacks unit
Posted 05:32 07th October 2012
Wallaroo says...
Seems like the AB's are getting better with every game, since the game in Sydney the AB's have played better in every game even the game against a determined Bok side in Dunedin. I don't see them being beaten any time soon.
Well done McCheat, you are one arsey, oops, classy player lol.
Posted 05:25 07th October 2012
tha_mai says...
bigb6969 - re Carter stats - espn site lists him as being on 519 points from 37 matches (36 starts 1 sub). And his 6th test drop-goal - he's not in the top 50 for that category!
Posted 03:39 07th October 2012
rugbyphile says...
Well done ABs--running with the ball they are peerless. SA defence in midfield was poor and Goosen should have been removed as soon as he was injured--in fact was obviously injured before the game with knee strapped. poor coaching.All Blacks infringed often--but no penalty or card for the tip tackle--will the IRB show us the rule book on this with the small print exception written in for Umaga, Thorn, Retallick etc?? And loved McCaw lying on the ground near his tryline illegally pushing the ball back with his hand and Strauss gets pinged for a knock-on---All Blacks are superbly coached, very fit and a class above when it comes to running the ball. When they start to try to play within the rules they will be just as good, and rugby union will have a much better look.
Posted 03:23 07th October 2012
Trader2 says...
A great win to the Blacks, as they all are against SA in their own backyard. Nice to see no complaining about the ref who I thought had a pretty good game. No team in the world can stay with the AB's once their backs get the ball and hang on to it. Kudos to Steve Foster after being one of his critics earlier in the series, maybe it was just a case of holding on to the ball and running straight, simple I suppose. As I see it the AB's have two challenges (1) they need to continue to improve but the trick here is how to measure themselves when you are so dominant, when there is no other team coming up with the plays to force different thinking and (2) father time is not on the side of some of the Blacks and 2015 is a long way off so we should expect to see in 2013 some new blood being used more regularly. A good start for this would be in the Brisbane game, give some of the younger 2nd stringers a go lets not get to hyped up on this world record successive wins thing. Overall though a great Championship for the AB's, SA are rebuilding, the Wannabies have had the worst run of injuries you cam imagine (will borrow Trinats excuse here as he has given it up in the pursuit of Dingo), the Argies, probably over hyped, will improve and are a welcome addition. 2013 will be another entirely different year so for we Kiwis, just enjoy.
Posted 03:22 07th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Congratulations ABs on winning the inaugural RC and unbeaten. clearly the No1 team in the world this year and by a big margin.
Good to see SA play a running game. Maybe if they had of made changes earlier in RC they may have avoided the (Tri-nats) wooden spoon again.
Posted 03:09 07th October 2012
Ramage says...
At this time the usual saffa writers on here have made some good points and show what real rugby lovers they are. So far the trolls have not lifted their pens to write some of the bile we get used to.
It was a really enjoyable game and yes I agree with what many of the Saffa writers are saying that their team has and is showing some promise. At some stage the All Blacks will not win and for me that will be a sad moment. However I too will have to take it on the chin and hope I never revert to attacks on opposition players as has been common by those trolls who cant accept the skills of many of the current All Black players. I offer one piece of advice to Saffa fans on here.The skills of running and passing the ball are developed in the coaching styles that are currently in vogue in the ITM competition and the way our Super Rugby teams play the game. South Africa will need to adopt a change of style in their play in both Currie Cup and Super Rugby. A co-ordinated plan of attack from the bottom up needs to be put into play by South African Rugby. The game is still a physical one but look at the way NZ defended their line, look at the way they still ran the ball even when they were down.
An example of what I am talking about is attitude as to what you can do . On Saturday I watched Otago play Wellington .Very early in the first half Wellington had taken Otago out of the game with their four tries, yet Otago still ran the ball and though ending up losing 22-49 still scored tries and right to the last were running the ball at their opposition. Late in the second half SA down and probably out could only scramble their ball on the goal line and the first thought kick it out. Yes this is a test match and defence is better the attitude and mentality of the players is what is needed. Every man has his day and South Africa's will come but they need to rethink the game.
Posted 02:12 07th October 2012
TVaddict says...
Fantastic game from the All Blacks. Although, since Ramage says I hate New Zealand and I'm an alcoholic I guess I should say something bad...er... I guess some of the calls at the break down were 50-50... Although seriously did you see that McCaw was penalised for retreating through the ruck! I can not believe it. I've never seen a New Zealander penalised for retreating through a ruck. The fact they were penalised for that, and won, means they deserved it!
Now on other line of thoughts:
-How is Gear not first choice for the New Zealand squad. How amazing do they have to be to not have him as first choice?!
- How can a team lose SBW and still have an amazing centre pairing?!
-How can a country as small as the New Zealand lose so many young stars to higher paying nations and still not just compete, but win, at the international stage?!
-etc...etc...
-Since both their first choice hookers are over 30, who is next in line?
Posted 02:05 07th October 2012
tha_mai says...
From IRB site:
"Victory for the Wallabies over Argentina would see them revert to second place in the IRB World Rankings at the expense of South Africa - provided New Zealand beat the Springboks to extend their unbeaten run to 16 Tests."
That was a very short stay at #2!
Posted 01:46 07th October 2012
sandal says...
This must have been pretty close to the All Blacks' greatest victory.
Not so much for the quality of the performance, or the teams, but for the result in the face of circumstances. The ABs had to travel the previous week for a test in Argentina, then on to South Africa. Then they had to play at altitude.
More significantly, the All Blacks encountered refereeing so hostile as to be almost without precedent. I had thought I would never again see anything like the France quarterfinal of 2007. Well, we very nearly did ...
Posted 01:06 07th October 2012
Ferdie says...
I htought the drop-kick was a nice touch.
Brief match highlights here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jHBXm-cjDE
Posted 01:00 07th October 2012
jonesrp says...
Anyone else notice Habana nervously look around to the ref after he`d scored...?? He must have thought it was going to be South Africa`s day after that ..
Posted 00:53 07th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Two wins from two at "fortress Soweto' that blows away that theory, plus all the ones about the ABs unable to cope at altitude and fading in the last 20 minutes we heard about in the preview thread.
That is six wins from seven played v SA since 2010 - may be the most dominant couple of years ever v their top traditional opponent?
Congrats to the AB team I thought this might have been one too many for motivation having wound up the series, good prfoessional attitude and wearing Black with so much pride.
Posted 00:19 07th October 2012
sandal says...
dlk.
Posted 00:08 07th October 2012
SACanuck says...
Congrats AB's what an awsome team. You will go on with records that will take gendertions to be beat. Simply magic. After supporting the Boks for 50 friggin years I have finally come to the conculision that the SARU union have an IQ of a 60W light bulb.
1. When your only game plan is to kick friggin penalties and you cannot you have a problem
2. The AB' have shown that the professional game is all about scoring tries and entertaining the Rugby world, the Boks depend on head in the sand 1970 statergies.
3. Kicking the ball to the AB back line has to be the dumbest idea since God supposedly rested on the 7 day.
4. Playing idots that give away penalties like parking tickets is simply dumd in today's world.
5. And the list goes on.
I have relatives in NZ who I know are not looking forward to going to work on Monday.
Congrats NZ great team.
Boks take your friggin heads out of the sand.
Posted 00:07 07th October 2012
blackblood says...
If you should by chance come across Richard in your travels, Stand stationary. Remove your hat and probably say nothing. If an onion ring should drop out of his burger, pick it up and offer it back to the great lord. But again,say nothing, lest your presence offend him....
Posted 23:49 06th October 2012
Zandberg says...
HM made crucial mistakes again: not substituting Goosen IMMEDIATELY after his injury, but allowing him to limp around, unable to tackle, while NZ scored 2 tries. Then he brings on Coenie at tighthead where he's never played and promptly penalties are conceded. Boks also idiotic at maul near tryline against 14 men not to send the ball wide. So frustrating. Quite a few positives for SA though, particularly forward play. NZ are beatable, but you need a smart, slick team, which SA aren't yet.
Posted 22:38 06th October 2012