The All Blacks reclaimed rugby supremacy yesterday when they overpowered world champions South Africa 19-8 in an immensely physical opening Tri-Nations Test.
The win saw the All Blacks replace the Springboks at the top of the IRB world rankings and brought the visitors’ 14-game winning streak to an abrupt halt.
The victorious hosts also extended their world record unbeaten run of home victories to 30 and won back much of the respect they lost at home following their shock early exit from last year’s World Cup.
With the expected strong winds holding off until the dying stages and the chilly rain disappearing for the second half, both sides scored one try, with Dan Carter landing four penalties for the All Blacks to one by Springbok fly-half Butch James.
It was a devastating result for Springboks captain John Smit, who desperately wanted to beat the All Blacks on their home turf to cap South Africa’s World Cup success.
“We came here very purposeful and very much with the belief in ourselves that it’s time to change our fortunes over here,” he said. “But they defended well, they kicked much better than us and we certainly didn’t deserve to win tonight.”
In a titanic battle, which threatened to explode when an all-in brawl erupted after five minutes when All Blacks lock Brad Thorn picked up Smit and hurled him into the ground, the All Blacks’ largely new-look pack humbled the vastly experienced South African eight.
They rolled them back in the scrums and Rodney So’oialo, Jerome Kaino and Adam Thompson enjoyed an edge over Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith and Schalk Burger in the murky battle for the loose ball in the bruising rucks and mauls.
All Blacks lock Ali Williams, playing his 50th Test, showed no sign of the ankle injury that had made him a doubt for the match earlier in the week.
The Test debut for rugby’s “Experimental Law Variations” produced a fast-paced encounter, with the All Blacks mixing back-line variations with raking kicks by Carter to tire the heavier Springboks pack.
All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith said that while Carter’s kicking accuracy was crucial, it was the “massive performance” by the forwards which won the match.
“It was a night that had to be won up front, and that’s where we won it,” he said.
Head coach Graham Henry singled out the character of his side, led by So’oialo in place of the injured Richie McCaw.
“They played with huge character, it involved big back bones and I think that was the winning of the game,” Henry said. “They’re the current world champions and I think that brings a lot out of our guys as well.”
Carter had the All Blacks in front with a handy penalty in the third minute, but James replied two minutes later with a long-range effort when Thorn was penalized for his dangerous tackle on Smit.
Smit later left the field with a groin injury which he said flared after being treated “like a tent peg.”
Two more Carter penalties pushed the All Blacks to a 9-3 lead, before Bryan Habana scored the only try of the first half after Jean de Villiers broke through limited All Blacks defense on the blindside.
The All Blacks try came soon after the resumption of play, with Carter doubling around Tony Woodcock to open a gap, sending Jerome Kaino in for the touchdown.
Carter added the conversion from wide out and landed his fourth penalty with 10 minutes remaining.
South Africa have not won in New Zealand for 10 years and will have to show a marked improvement if they are to snap that record in the second Test next Saturday.
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