The Springboks showed in Saturday's Tri-Nations showdown that the All Blacks are beatable - but didn’t quite manage it. They dominated the game for all but a ten-minute spell, exposing New Zealand in several areas and demonstrating to the rest of the world that they should not be afraid.

Late tries from Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko ensured that the All Blacks crept home 26-21, but it was South Africa who had the upper hand for the majority of the game. Nevertheless, credit must go to the winning side for maintaining their composure and for capitalising on the Boks’ momentary lack of concentration.

The South African back row were ferocious throughout and dominated the All Blacks’ unit, but could not quite sustain their efforts for the duration. Schalk Burger was monumental in defence and just had the edge over McCaw - and it looked as though their ruthlessness in the breakdown would win the day.

'At times, especially in the first half, New Zealand looked vulnerable in the face of the challenge'


As expected, the South Africans were menacingly competitive at the breakdown; they put pressure on the opposition lineout, and they kicked well out of hand to turn Sitiveni Sivivatu and Rokocoko. Indeed, this strategy led to their try just before half-time.

Turnover ball was kicked into the corner for Mils Muliaina to field, but his only option was to run into touch, such was the speed of the chase. The lineout was won, and the green juggernaut marched towards the line and eventually gave the home side n 11-6 lead at half-time.

The number of turnovers won by South Africa was outstanding, and they frequently forced the New Zealand runners into poor positions so that they gave away penalties in the tackle - and with Ruan Pienaar capable of slotting goals from his own half, this looked like a good plan.

However, leading 21-12 with ten minutes to go, the Springbok challenge faltered. The All Blacks found some open space to run in, courtesy of Rodney So’oialo, and were able to steal the game.

World Cup hopefuls South Africa will take heart from this game, though. At times, especially in the first half, New Zealand looked vulnerable in the face of the challenge. Clever passes were dropped, the ball was knocked-on regularly, Jerry Collins nearly hospitalised his own man and Dan Carter's goal-kicking looked fallible.

The key was the ruthlessness at the ruck by the Springboks, with their pack seemingly unconscious to the possibility of serious injury as they charged head first into their opposite numbers. And it yielded results.

Rarely have the All Blacks been stood up to at the breakdown, and they looked as though they did not know what to do. Only when the play was more broken did New Zealand look comfortable again, and as everyone knows this is when they are so lethal.

So what does this all mean? What do you need to beat the best team in the world? The answer - a savage and brutal back row, a faultless lineout on your own throw and strong jumpers to pressure theirs, a pin-point accurate kicking game (five yards behind Rokocoko is effective, but five yards in front is ill-advised) and a big, mobile, aggressive forward unit that will sustain the fight for 80 minutes.