South Africa 18 - 5 New Zealand
18 points from the boot of Morne Steyn and a tremendous defensive display saw South Africa pick up their first win of this year's Tri-Nations, over a weakened New Zealand side.
New Zealand started the game at blistering pace and could have scored their first try after just 40 seconds, full-back Israel Dagg sliced through the Springbok defence and fed the ball inside to Jimmy Cowan, but a brilliant try-saving tackle from Bryan Habana stooped the scrum-half crossing the line.
But it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play after six minutes, through a brilliantly struck penalty from fly-half Morne Steyn. The Bulls number 10 then added his second penalty four minutes later to make it 6-0.
The All Blacks were committing far too many offences at the breakdown, and a sloppy piece of play by Adam Thomson allowed Steyn to slot his third penalty of the day, extending the lead to nine points. New Zealand had a chance to register their first points but Colin Slade missed a penalty attempt from straight in-front of the posts.
The visitor's were having all the possession and territory but couldn't break the strong Boks defence which was led brilliantly by Jaque Fourie. Steyn once again punished the All Blacks for their indiscretions at the ruck, landing his fourth penalty to make the score 12-0, after 25 minutes. On the half-hour mark Steyn dropped back into the pocket and slotted a brilliant drop-goal to extend the lead to 15-0.
Five minutes before the break the All Blacks scored their first try of the game, a brilliant set play from the backs saw the ball moved wide to Sonny-Bill Williams who flicked a wonderful pass inside to Hosea Gear, the winger was tackled but got the ball away to Richard Kahui who showed great strength to score. Slade couldn't add the extras so the score remained 15-5 going into the break.
Five minutes into the second period the All Blacks thought they had scored another try, Dagg once again cut through the defence and offloaded to Cowan who touched down, but the TMO review showed that the final pass was forward.
Once again the visitors were dominating possession and territory, but the brilliant Boks defence refused to budge. At the ruck Heinrich Brussow and Willem Alberts were doing superb job to disrupt and slow the ball down. Bismarck Du Plessis showed why he is considered the best hooker in the world, putting in a powerful display both at set piece and in defence.
At scrum and lineout the home team were in the ascendency, and this was allowing them to clear their lines and forced the All Blacks to play from inside their own half. The only points of the half arrived after 58 minutes once again it was Morne Steyn who was pin-point accurate with his fifth penalty of the match, which took his personal tally to 18.
For the rest of the half the Kiwi's huffed and puffed but their execution was very poor, and they couldn't find a way to break the Bok's resolute defence.
South Africa will be delighted with the result and the performance, they were powerful at the set piece and breakdown. They had a game-plan and executed it superbly, taking their chances when they came along. Graham Henry has found out a lot about some of his fringe players, but with 11 changes to the side and no Carter or McCaw he won't be to disappointed.
Man of the Match
Morne Steyn
