Tri Nations

Tri Nations

All Blacks score comeback win

By RICHARD KNOWLER in Durban - Fairfax Media Sunday, 24 June 2007
Reuters
TOUGH TEST: New Zealand's Aaron Mauger is tackled by South Africa's Jean de Villiers during their Tri-nations test match at the Absa stadium in Durban. The All Blacks won 26-21.

Two fourth-quarter tries earned the All Blacks a thrilling 26-21 win over the Springboks in a brutal Tri Nations encounter at Durban's Absa Stadium early today (NZ time). Down 12-21 with 14 minutes remaining, the All Blacks' helter-skelter game plan finally began to take its toll on the 'Boks who could not stop Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko from scoring tries to sew up the win.

While the South Africans have a break next weekend, the injury-free All Blacks will face the Wallabies in Melbourne for their second Tri Nations match on Saturday night.

"They never gave up, they just kept coming at us," Springboks coach Jake White admitted afterwards.
"No doubt in the final 20 minutes, they upped the ante and we got found out."
The All Blacks had predicted the Springboks would rely on brute strength and a simple game plan based around their set pieces. They were not to be disappointed.

The 'Boks served it up to them all afternoon, roughing up skipper Richie McCaw when the likes of Schalk Burger and Bobby Skinstad could get their hands on him.
Although the South African scrum was badly exposed - loosehead prop BJ Botha was up to his usual tricks of burrowing in on the angle - they had the better of the lineout in the first half, stealing three of the All Blacks' first throws.

"We played pretty well in the last 20 (minutes) which showed signs of a lot of pride in the group and a lot of backbone," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said.

The South Africans dominated possession in the first spell after some early exuberance where they flicked the ball wide, they soon reverted to type and kicked for territory.

All Blacks first five-eighths Dan Carter slotted two penalties in the first half from four attempts, while Ruan Pienaar and Percy Montgomery kicked penalties and Schalk Burger crashed over for a try from a lineout drive on the halftime bell to give his side a 11-6 lead.

After the break the All Blacks immediately signalled their intentions by firing in quick lineout throws and running the South Africans into the dust.

All Blacks second-five Aaron Mauger banged over an early drop goal to close the gap to three points but minutes later threw a pass when he was unbalanced and it popped into the grateful hands of Butch James who raced 35m to score and an 18-9 lead.

Slowly, however, the All Blacks run-and-gun style took its toll.
The Springboks then lost loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg for 10 minutes after he was yellow carded for slowing the ball down when the All Blacks were hot on attack.

There was to be little mercy from the All Blacks who destroyed their scrum on several occasions and when they ran on replacements like Ross Filipo, Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger and Piri Weepu the South Africans were shot.

Montgomery extended the lead to nine with another penalty before the home defensive wall finally cracked 12 minutes from the end as Rodney So'oialo sparked the All Blacks.

The No 8 made a magnificent kick return, linked with Jerry Collins and the All Blacks shifted the ball wide before McCaw, the third of their outstanding loose forward trio, dived over.

Three minutes later the All Blacks finally hit the front when replacement Leon MacDonald pounced on loose ball and raced away, drawing and passing to the flying Rokocoko.

All Blacks 26 (Richie McCaw, Joe Rockoko tries; Dan Carter 3 pens, 2 conv; Aaron Mauger dropped goal) South Africa 21 (Schalk Burger, Butch James tries, Percy Montgomery 2 pen, conv, Ruan Pienaar pen) HT: 6-11. -NZPA