CHAMPIONSHIP New Zealand 21 South Africa 11:MISTAKES AND silly errors in handling and decision making by both sides dominated much of New Zealand's victory over South Africa on Saturday that left the All Blacks on the verge of winning the inaugural Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks scored two tries, from fullback Israel Dagg and replacement scrumhalf Aaron Smith, while outhalf Aaron Cruden slotted three penalties and a conversion to maintain the world champions’ unbeaten run intact.
Springboks winger Bryan Habana scored a brilliant individual try early in the second half to take his South African try-scoring record to 43, while Morne Steyn and his replacement Johan Goosen added a penalty each.
The All Blacks have attempted to play the game at extreme pace under coach Steve Hansen, with backs and forwards linking and keeping the ball alive at every opportunity. While two back-door flick passes from players being tackled set up Dagg’s first-half try under the roof in Dunedin, more often than not those passes were being spilled.
The All Blacks also did not present the ball accurately at the breakdown for the second successive week, causing problems for first Piri Weepu then Smith, while they were also guilty of hanging on to it too long and incurring the wrath of referee George Clancy.
“When we go back and review (the match), there were a number of what we call avoidable penalties,” said Hansen.
The young Springboks side relied again on a one-dimensional kicking game from outhalf Steyn to put pressure on the All Blacks inside their own territory.
The tactic was effective with Clancy awarding the visitors numerous penalties. However, Steyn and inside centre Frans Steyn combined to miss five shots at goal in the first half while Goosen missed a penalty in the second as the Springboks failed to capitalise on their chances.
The Springboks also blew a certain try early in the match when Habana was unmarked 15 metres from the line only for the final pass to go behind him and into touch.
NEW ZEALAND: Dagg, Jane, C. Smith, Nonu, Savea, Cruden, Weepu, Woodcock, Hore, O. Franks, Romano, S. Whitelock, Messam, McCaw, Read. Replacements: A Smith for Weepu (40m), Mealamu for Hore (47m), Retallick for Romano (49), Faumina for Franks (69).
SOUTH AFRICA: Kirchner, Habana, de Villiers, F. Steyn, Hougaard, M. Steyn, Pienaar, Mtawarira, Strauss, J. du Plessis, van der Merwe, J. Kruger, Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen. Replacements: Greyling for Mtawarira (50 mins), Bekker for Kruger (53), , Coetzee for Alberts (61), Liebenberg for Strauss (74) Goosen for Steyn (59), Lambie for Kitchener (74).
Referee: George Clancy(IRFU).
Remaining fixtures
Sep 29th– South Africa v Australia, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria; Argentina v New Zealand,Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata.
Oct 6th– South Africa v New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg; Argentina v Australia, Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario.
