A much-improved performance by All Blacks' play-maker Dan Carter and a dominating forward effort wore down the South Africans, who refused to go down quietly in a bruising Tri-Nations encounter. New Zealand's superior fitness and weight of possession eventually broke the Springbok spirit and allowed Graham Henry's men to score 21 points in the final 21 minutes.

For the second time this season, the All Blacks suffered an injury during the pre-game warm-ups, this time to winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, who was replaced in the starting line-up by his cousin, Joe Rokocoko.

The first half was dominated by suffocating defence and a parade of penalties dished out by referee Stuart Dickinson. Neither side was able to break the other's defensive line from set play, although the All Blacks' back-line were able to create some chances in broken play.

'New Zealand's superior fitness and weight of possession eventually broke the Springbok spirit and allowed Graham Henry's men to score 21 points in the final 21 minutes'


Both teams started somewhat nervously, turning over ball and looking tentative in the early exchanges. As the match wore on and the teams settled into their work, the game began to develop more structure.

The scoring was opened by Carter with a long-range penalty after nine minutes. What followed this early score was a titanic struggle in the centre of the field with neither side really able to gain much momentum.

After a missed penalty attempt from South Africa's Ruan Pienaar from within his own half, the visitors finally got on the board off the boot of Derek Hougaard with a 23rd-minute penalty. The All Blacks' narrow lead was restored just two minutes later with another Carter penalty.

The only real try-scoring chance of the first half fell to New Zealand when lock Keith Robinson won the ball off a Springbok line-out, leading to a Luke McAlister burst in mid-field. But the final pass sailed over the head of winger Doug Howlett, who had nobody between him and the try line.

Towards the end of the half, the New Zealand pack gained some ascendancy, turing ball over at rucks and demolishing the Springbok scrum on two occasions. But even with that advantage, they were unable to cash in and went into the break leading only 6-3.

The All Blacks were able to lift the tempo early in the second half with breaks from Isea Toeava and then McAlister but were unable to turn their chances into points. After weathering the initial storm, the Springboks drew level with another Hougaard penalty in the 46th minute.

However, they found themselves reduced to 14 players as Pedre Wannenburg was once again sin-binned for a professional foul when he deliberately killed the ball after a Rodney So'oialo break. Carter kicked the ensuing penalty and added another while Wannenburg was off the field.

The game's first try came in the 69th minute from replacement half-back Brendan Leonard. The Springboks spilled the ball on half way directly into the hands of Howlett, who made the initial break, then got a miracle pass to Rokocoko who put Leonard away with a deft final pass. Carter's conversion made the score 19-6.

As the Springboks began to tire, the All Black backs were able to make some inroads into their wall-like defence and were rewarded with another try when replacement Nick Evans took the ball on the left flank and beat two would-be tacklers to score in the corner. Carter again converted and New Zealand looked to have sealed the game.

With time up on the clock, the All Blacks threw the ball around with reckless abandon and were rewarded with a third try to Carter, who swooped on a loose ball and scored untouched after Springbok fullback JP Petersen failed to clean up a chip kick. Carter converted his own try for a personal haul of 23 points, landing five goals from 6 attempts.

Once again the Springboks showed a great deal of character, tackling their hearts out and holding the All Blacks tryless for nearly 70 minutes. Unfortunately they were let down by yet another yellow card and eventually ran out of gas, which allowed the score to blow out.

The All Blacks can take a number of positives from this game. Their scrum continued to dominate, the backs looked sharp despite the smothering defence and the line-out, long considered the All Blacks' achilles heel, was much improved. This result means the winner of next weekend's New Zealand-Australia clash will take home the 2007 Tri-Nations Trophy.