RUGBY TRI-NATIONS:SOUTH AFRICA left New Zealand for Australia yesterday looking for their first point in the defence of the Tri-Nations crown and without a second player thanks to suspension.
Bakkies Botha received a nine-week ban after being cited for a headbutt in the first game, in Auckland, and wing Jean de Villiers was given a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Rene Ranger in the second, in Wellington.
If Botha, with his poor disciplinary record, was fortunate not to receive a longer suspension, De Villiers, whose only disciplinary blemish before Saturday was a yellow card for a professional foul, was more hard done by. His tackle was high, but not malicious. South Africa left New Zealand muttering about injustice.
Outplayed in Auckland, they presented more of a challenge on Saturday, but Danie Rossouw’s early yellow card for kicking Richie McCaw left them with too much to do. They shipped 10 points while a man short at Eden Park and they conceded the same number while Botha’s replacement was in the sin-bin on Saturday.
They could not match New Zealand’s tempo. The Kiwis were nimble in thought and movement, and in number eight Kieran Read and scrumhalf Piri Weepu they had the game’s outstanding players as they collected a try-scoring bonus point for the second successive week.
A superb defensive effort midway through the second half had probably turned the momentum, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said.
“Around about the 60th minute I thought the game could have gone either way,” Henry said. “We were under pressure right on our line for about three or four minutes and we defended superbly. It was a very important part of the game – probably the turning point.”
The All Blacks not only managed to hold out the Springboks as they hammered away at the try-line, but then swept down field to score their fourth try. Replacement winger Israel Dagg ghosted past four defenders to notch his first Test try.
Dagg’s score was typical of all the All Blacks’ tries, started from deep inside their territory.
“I’m frustrated at the moment,” South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said of the new rule interpretations which give the attacking team the advantage at the breakdown.
“The only thing a coach can ask is consistency. We have played six games and have had six different types of (interpretation of) plays on the ground.”
l Guardian Service
SCORERS: New Zealand – Tries: Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger, Israel Dagg; Conversion: Daniel Carter; Penalties: Carter (2), Piri Weepu. South Africa – Tries: Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger; Conversions: Morne Steyn (2); Penalty: Steyn.
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Jane, Smith, Ma'a Nonu (Cruden, 74 mins), Ranger (Dagg 64 mins); Carter, Weepu (Cowan, 64 mins); Woodcock, Mealamu, O Franks (B Franks, 71 mins), Thorn, Donnelly, Kaino, McCaw (Messam 76 mins), Read.
SOUTH AFRICA: Kirchner; de Villiers (Aplon 40 mins), Fourie, Olivier, Habana; Steyn, Januarie (Pienaar 55 mins); Steenkamp, Smit (Ralepelle 76 mins), van der Linde (Botha 40 mins), Roussouw (Bekker 55 mins), Matfield, Burger, Louw, Spies (Kankowski 70 mins).
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).
