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| Dagg seals victory on his 5th cap |
The All Blacks needed just one point to claim the trophy, so that was never in doubt. But the game was. Watched by 94,000 people in the Stadium formerly known as Soccer City, South Africa produced an almighty display of high intensity rugby and led by five points with just three minutes to go.
Up stepped Richie McCaw, the captain leading by example as always, was credited with a controversial try to level the game. His foot hitting the touchline at the very same millisecond that he grounded the ball. South African TMO, Shaun Veldsman, told referee Nigel Owens: "There is no clear evidence the the player was in touch before he grounded the ball." much to the displeasure of his compatriots.
John Smit sat dejected after the final whistle, he had become only the second man to earn 100 Springbok caps, and this was one of the hardest earned. With the game level 22 all in the final minute, Maa Nonu showed no signs of tiring, bursting through props, Gurthro Steenkamp and CJ Van Der Linde, before looping a pass to allow Israel Dagg claim the glory of the win.
The opening quarter of this arm wrestle could not separate the sides, both powerhouses trundling forward and back from 22 to 22 as Dan Carter and Morne Steyn traded two penalties each.
The hosts were playing like underdogs, snapping and snarling at the visitors, who began as favourites tend to do: Doing just enough, taking time to get the swing of a game but never looked overly phased.
Suddenly the Boks found a breakthrough, Bryan Habana quick tapping a kickable penalty giving Schalke Burger a platform to crash across the try-line. The TMO was called for, but Irish assistant Alain Rollaind delighted the home crown by signaling a clean touchdown, he was right too.
Seven points clear, the Calabash was baying for Maori blood, their team huffed and puffed some more. Carter and Steyn drew another penalty apiece. But on 37 minutes the hosts looked like their extreme work rate had finally softened. Victor Matfield got a sniff of the ball, after burst of pace from Brad Thorne left him isolated on the left wing.
It was only a sniff though, McCaw stepped in to shield. From there, it took just five passes for the champions in waiting to traverse the pitch and allow that unfamiliar wing, Tony Woodcock, an easy run in to put the visitors within two at the break.
Once Steyn had increased the margin after 43 minutes, penalties became scarce in the second half. But the green maul drew another with 20 minutes to go, it was much needed. The All Blacks had been battering at the door but were constantly met by tackles from possessed men. Carter, having an indifferent day from placed kicks, came closest to picking the lock, knocking on within inches of the corner after being caught by JP Pietersen.
22-14 down, the visitors were encamped in enemy territory, and the longer time ticked by without a score, the more they tried to do things delicately, tiring against a brutish defence. That changed when Van Der Linde was pinged for blocking at a ruck inside his 22, allowing the black side of the scoreboard to move again reducing the deficit to five points, enough to win the trophy.
With his next kick Carter signaled the beginning of a dramatic finale, missing a straightforward 30 metre penalty. But with South African bodies limping from pillar to post having given every ounce of effort they had, McCaw popped up with Habana out of position and levelled the game and still time for Dagg to deliver the icing, Graham Henry was brave enough to introduce the youngster in place of the proven Joe Rocokoko when trailing by five points. Decision vindicated.
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Butch James, 22 Wynand Olivier.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Josevata Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Israel Dagg.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
SCORES:
South Africa: New Zealand:
Try: Burger Woodcock, McCaw, Dagg
Pen: Steyn (5) Carter (4)
Conv: Steyn Carter
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