New Zealand overcame a searching test from a South African team fueled by desperation to win a torrid rugby union international 19-11 at Carisbrook on Saturday.
The Springboks arrived in New Zealand with their reputation battered by a 52-16 pasting from the All Blacks in Pretoria and with their image stained by allegations of foul play from last week's 29-9 loss to Australia.
PHOTO: AP
They left, after their last match before October's World Cup, having been beaten by the All Blacks for the 33rd time in 62 tests and for a record sixth time in succession with at least some of their international prestige restored.
New Zealand was poised to win the Tri-Nations championship for the second year in a row after scoring 14 tries and posting more than 100 points in away matches against South Africa and Australia.
It was widely expected they would prevail by a similar margin but South Africa's rekindled spirit and their boisterous but efficient defense allowed New Zealand only one try and a slender winning margin.
That try went to left wing and rising star Joe Rokocoko from a kick-and-chase in the fifth minute of play. It was the Fijiian-born flyer's 11th try in only six test appearances since his June debut.
The Springboks replied with a superb try of their own -- scored by prop Richard Bands and already regarded as one of the finest scored by a tight forward in international rugby.
Bands was the first receiver in a Springbok passing movement which began just inside the All Blacks half. He eluded the first tackle of his opposite number, Kees Meeuws, then beat the cover tackles of Carlos Spencer and Aaron Mauger.
Even in the dying minutes of the match, when the Springboks' defeat had become inevitable, they continued to strongly defend their own line.
The decisive factor in the match was ultimately the goalkicking of flyhalf Spencer, who kicked four penalties and a conversion -- five goals from five attempts.
The Springboks' usually failsafe goalkicker Louis Koen, who maintained an 89 percent success rate in this year's Super 12, managed only two penalties from five shots. He also missed three dropped goals.
Spencer's conversion of Rokocoko's try provided the difference between the teams at halftime when the All Blacks led 13-11. His penalties in the 47th and 58th minutes were the only points of the second half.
"Carlos kicked really well," said All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne. "We've always believed in him and tonight he showed what he's capable of."
The match was played in calm but bitterly cold conditions with limited running play. After Rokocoko's try, from a kick by Mauger into the left corner, and Bands' startling burst there were few clean breaks by either side.
The Springboks managed to clear their rucks and establish an effective pick-and-run style, finding narrow gaps close to loose pieces. While they found continuity, however, they failed to complete the last passes which might have created tries.
"I'm not happy with a loss but I'm happy with the way the guys played," said Springbok captain Corne Krige. "We'll keep our heads up and at least we can take something out of this for the World Cup."
Lin Yun-ju on Thursday handed Taiwan two key victories as they advanced to the semi-finals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London. The Taiwan men’s table tennis team beat Sweden 3-2 in five singles matches. The 24-year-old Lin, Taiwan’s top-ranked player at world No. 7 and nicknamed the “Silent Assassin,” opened the tie by defeating world No. 2 Truls Moregard 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 13-11) before clinching the deciding fifth match with a 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5) win over Anton Kallberg to hand his team the overall victory. Kuo Guan-hong put Taiwan up 2-0 with a 3-2 (4-11, 11-8, 8-11,
Marta Kostyuk’s maiden WTA 1000 title in Madrid came on Saturday thanks to her power, poise and a pair of unexpected lucky shorts. The world No. 23 beat eighth-ranked Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 in under 90 minutes to secure the most prestigious trophy of her career, her third professional singles title and second in less than a month after Rouen. Yet as the 23-year-old Ukrainian posed for photographs at the Caja Magica, it was not just the silverware that caught the eye. Held alongside her team and her two dogs, Kostyuk showed off a piece of black men’s underwear, prompting
Arsenal stormed six points clear at the top of the English Premier League as Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres put Fulham to the sword in a 3-0 win, while West Ham United’s defeat at Brentford offered Tottenham Hotspur a lifeline in the battle for survival. The Gunners have stumbled toward the finish line in their quest for a first league title in 22 years, blowing a sizeable lead over Manchester City in a series of nervous displays. However, the return of Saka, making his first start in six weeks, freed up Mikel Arteta’s men in a dominant performance that shrugged
Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday said that she hoped she would be able to play tennis under the Belarusian flag after the International Olympic Committee lifted its ban on the country’s athletes competing in the Olympics. World No. 1 Sabalenka has had to compete under a neutral banner as a consequence of her country’s support for Russia following its ally’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The IOC earlier on Thursday lifted its ban on Belarusian athletes competing in the Olympics, although restrictions on Russian athletes remain in place. Asked whether the women’s tour would drop the ban on her representing her country, Sabalenka said:
RSS