RUGBY/New Zealand 19 South Africa 11: Representatives from New Zealand and South Africa made it clear yesterday rugby Tests should be played during daylight hours, so dew and cold do not ruin contests as a spectacle.
In the All Blacks' 19-11 win in Dunedin on Saturday, cloudless skies over the previous four days had meant the ground at Carisbrook was perfect for a day Test, but the near-freezing evening weather made handling difficult.
With Dunedin enjoying a spell of fine weather, both sides prepared for the test on firm training grounds in the sun, hardly conducive to playing in the cold with a wet ball.
"It makes for a long day and a late night," All Black skipper Reuben Thorne said before the game. "It's generally raining and cold, whereas the weather we've had during training would have been perfect for an afternoon game.
"We'd all enjoy a change, there's no doubt about that, but I don't think it will get to that point. Everyone knows how we feel."
All Black assistant coach Robbie Deans has long been an advocate of returning to afternoon tests and South African winger Stefan Terblanche said night games gave the All Blacks an advantage because they were used to the cold and the wet.
"The culture I come from says at three o'clock you play a game and at five o'clock you're out on the field having a braai (barbecue)," he said.
However, the current scheduling set-up is likely to continue.
With a fortune in television money at stake courtesy of live broadcasts at respectable, early-morning hours in Europe and South Africa and in the late afternoon in Australia, the New Zealand Rugby Union are unlikely to alter the evening kick-offs.
Victory in Dunedin clinched back-to-back Tri-Nations championships for the All Blacks, with one fixture - a Bledisloe Cup match against Australia - still to play in Auckland next Saturday.
Both teams scored a try, but Carlos Spencer's goal kicking proved the difference.
The All Blacks opened the scoring when Joe Rokocoko beat team-mate Doug Howlett and the South African defence to an Aaron Mauger grubber kick. It was Rokocoko's 11th try in six Tests.
The South Africans replied nine minutes later with a sensational try by prop Richard Bands. He gathered the ball on the All Blacks' 10-metre mark and thundered to the try-line, swatting aside Spencer and Mauger on the way.
Spencer and South African outhalf Louis Koen did the rest of the scoring by way of penalties.
In an excellent defensive performance, South Africa blunted much of New Zealand's backline firepower - reducing the hosts to a relentless battering ram approach by the forwards - and will rue the fact the normally accurate Koen missed several penalty kicks and wasted three unlikely drop-goal attempts.
South African skipper Corne Krige backed the hosts to win the final fixture next Saturday.
"After what happened last week in Brisbane I think you know who we might be bellowing for," he said in reference to the bad blood between South Africa and Australia after their brutal match a week ago.
But Krige warned that Australia were shrewd and had a good record against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup.
"I think New Zealand will win, but just you watch those Aussies," he added.
Australian coach Eddie Jones said yesterday he had taken heart from South Africa's ability to finish within eight points of New Zealand.
Last month the All Blacks embarrassed Australia 50-21 in Sydney and the Springboks 52-16 in Pretoria.
"They (South Africa) certainly put pressure on the All Blacks and did it well," Jones said.
"It certainly showed a few areas of their game that you can possibly expose."
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Howlett, Umaga, Mauger, Rokocoko; Spencer, Marshall; Collins, Holah, Thorne (capt), Williams, Thorn (Jack, 56), Meeuws (Somerville, 60), Hammett (Mealamu, 71), Hewett.
SOUTH AFRICA: Delport; Terblanche, Bobo, Muller, Willemse; Koen, Van der Westhuizen; Smith, Van Niekerk, Krige (capt), Matfield, Cronje (Boome, 66), Bands, Coetzee (Van Biljon, 61), Sephaka (Bezuidenhout, 40).
Referee: P Marshall (Australia).
