All Blacks shine against Springboks

Winger Joe Rokocoko scored two first-half tries and hooker Keven Mealamu added a 75th-minute clincher as New Zealand beat South Africa 31-27 yesterday in a pivotal Tri-Nations rugby test at Carisbrook.

Mealamu's try, from a concerted lineout drive five minutes from the final whistle, retrieved the lead for the All Blacks, who had slipped behind 27-24 in the second half. It stifled South Africa's comeback and its bid for consecutive Tri-Nations titles.

Coach Jake White's Springboks had to win Saturday to retain their Tri-Nations crown but, with both sides taking a bonus point, the series remains alive and will be decided in the All Blacks' final match against Australia at Auckland next Saturday.

The South Africans once again based their game around a mobile, blanketing defense which attempted to shut down the All Blacks around the inside backs and close down the threat posed by Rokocoko.

They targeted the expected vulnerability of novice flyhalf Leon MacDonald, but failed to halt Rokocoko, who snapped up one try from a charged-down kick and another from broken play close to the Springbok line.

Rokocoko's first try, in the fifth minute, highlighted the Fijian-born winger's blistering speed while his second, in the 26th minute, was his 30th in 26 tests and spotlighted his exceptional strength.

South Africa's prolific try scorer Bryan Habana picked up an eighth-minute try which was his 13th in 12 tests and his fourth of this Tri-Nations series, keeping the match close through halftime.

Halfback Ricky Januarie scored the Springboks' second try a minute from the interval, answering a try by MacDonald and sending the teams to the dressing rooms at halftime with the All Blacks ahead 21-17.

MacDonald and Springboks fullback Percy Montgomery exchanged penalties to provide the only points of a tight third quarter before center Jacques Fourie grabbed the Boks' third try from an All Blacks passing error.

Montgomery's conversion -- his fifth goal from seven attempts -- put South Africa ahead 27-24 for the first time since the opening minute of the match.

Mealamu won the game for the All Blacks as the clock ticked down to fulltime, peeling away from a creeping lineout drive and dashing through a gap in the Springbok defense to score.

Replacement flyhalf Luke McAlister added the conversion, keeping alive his unblemished kicking record in two test appearances.

"To the Springboks' credit, they came all this way and never gave up as you saw on the scoreboard and in the way they played," said All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.

"We were lucky to hold them out and get what we got but we're happy with it. We created a lot of things again and again they lived off our mistakes. It's the way they've been playing and it's obviously successful for them."

Despite the loss, South Africa captain John Smit praised his players' performance.

"It was a very tough game," said Smit. "We knew it was going to be tight and although we lost, it was a good performance by the boys. We spent a little bit too much time in our half which cost us in the end."

Flyhalf Matt Giteau has become the latest Australian player to be ruled out of the Wallabies Tri-Nations test on Sept. 3 against New Zealand at Auckland.

Giteau first sustained a lower back injury against the All Blacks in Sydney two weeks ago, then re-injured it against the Springboks in Perth, both defeats that extended the Australian losing streak to four.