| Time |
Score |
|
| |
|
Hello. we are just under an hour away from the kick off of the clash between New Zealand and South Africa from Hamilton. This looked like it could have been a dead rubber but after the Wallabies surprised the South Africa last week, this game has the taken on some real importance.
South Africa need 2 bonus points from this game to secure the trophy but if the All-Blacks can secure a bonus point win they will go on to face the Aussies next week knowing another bonus point win will bring them the Tri-nations. All set up nicely then.
As a side note Dan Carter is approaching Merhtens points record for New Zealand, can he make it today.
Join me, Jamie Allaway, for live commentary shortly.
The Haka has been completed and Carter prepares to kick off for New Zealand.
|
| 1 |
3 - 0 |
Early penalty to the All Blacks. Matfield collects the kick off cleanly, but the referee judges that Spies was illegally shielding him.
Carter Knocks it over and an ideal start for New Zealand.
|
| 2 |
|
NZ clear up their kick off cleanly, but good signs here for South Africa as they run the ball through several phases using Spies, du Preez and others through the middle. They're in the 22 and putting pressure on.
|
| 3 |
|
The penalty is eventually conceded to relieve pressure on NZ. Carter's clearance is vast and well into the South African half.
|
| 4 |
|
The lineout is scrappy and goes over the back, not a good sign for Nw Zealand who will need their set pieces to be solid against this very efficient South African side.
|
| 6 |
3 - 3 |
Massive Kick! From the penalty to South Africa at the breakdown, Steyn attempts a shot at goal. It must be 60 metres out but he absolutely drills it and it shaves the bar to go over. Scores level.
|
| 7 |
|
A couple of kicks are returned and New Zealand appear to be competing well with the positional kicking, with Carter taking responsibility and being accurate.
|
| 8 |
|
A turnover to New Zealand is followed a couple of phases later by a penalty for holding on, 60 metres out again. I assume Steyn will have another crack.
|
| 9 |
3 - 6 |
Again! Slots it over. His range does make a difference, as the All blacks have to treat an extra quarter of the pitch in defence as South Africa's scoring zone.
|
| 11 |
|
One of those box kicks from du Preez that we've seen so much of this tournament, however this time, the All Blacks secure and counter.
|
| 12 |
|
South Africa's a bit shoddy in defence there, first a bouncing ball from the lineout and then a loose kick, which goes straight down he throat of Rokocko, who is coming in at pace. South Africa defend but New Zealand have the scrum in the 22. The All Blacks have the upper hand at the moment and are putting some pressure on.
|
| 14 |
6 - 6 |
And the pressure tells. The South African scrum collapses to give Carter a relatively easy chance 25 metres out, slightly on the right. As you'd expect, he puts it straight through the middle.
|
| 17 |
6 - 9 |
South Africa secure their lineout from Carter's clearance and drive the ball up a couple of phases. It kind of takes us by surprise when Steyn snaps a drop kick, but it's good and South Africa regain the lead. Pretty even game so far, New Zealand possible have the edge but South Africa are taking half chances to secure points.
|
| 19 |
6 - 14 |
TRY Matfield disrupts a New Zealand lineout and du Preez puts up and up-and-under, Rokocoko fails to collect the ball under pressure and the ball bounces loose for Spies who takes it up and sends du Preez over. Du Preez did everything there, kicked it, chased it and scored it.
|
| 20 |
6 - 16 |
Steyn makes the conversion. South Africa are taking points at every opportunity and now have a sizable 10 point lead.
|
| 21 |
|
Carter has a chance to strike back straight away as New Zealand rip the ball back at the restart and win the penalty when South Africa try to kill it.
|
| 22 |
9 - 16 |
Carter makes the simple kick and also makes it 3 from 3. The kicking has been good from both sides.
|
| 24 |
|
Good phase there from the Kiwis. Rokocoko collects the kick briliantly this time and New Zealand run it through Sivivatu and Nonu, who is eventually bundled into touch, in their own half though.
|
| 25 |
|
Huge up-and-under goes straight up, its collected by South Africa and driven orward. The penalty is conceded by New Zealand. It's not in their own half, but it is straight, and Steyn has a go at anoher 50+ metre kick.
|
| 26 |
9 - 19 |
No need for bold type here, it was only a little over 50 metres, and that's easy range for him and it clears easily.
|
| 28 |
|
Again, the NZ lineout is weak and Matfield disrupts. It was quite deep in their half and put them under pressure, although good aggressive defence wins the penalty to rectify the situation.
|
| 29 |
|
The Kiwis run and drive the ball into the Springbok half but again fail to convert the pressure as they give away a penalty when they had men wide.
|
| 30 |
|
A bit of a collector's piece, as the South African lineout goes awry his time, giving New Zealand a chance to pump the ball upfield. Francois Steyn shells the kick, though, and New Zealand gain 50 metres of field position and the put-in at the scrum.
|
| 32 |
|
The game has been physical, but we have out first touch of real rough stuff as Habana is charging up the wing when play is dead folowing a knock-on, Read sticks out a big shoulder and just checks the smaller man into touch. No attempt to play the ball, no attempt to make the tackle, and absolutely no need.
|
| 33 |
9 - 22 |
SA have the penalty and Morne Steyn continues the 100% record, slotting it over easily.
|
| 34 |
12 - 22 |
From the restart, South Africa clear but the defenders are offside, so return the soft penalties. Carter has another relatively easy 25 metre kick.
|
| 35 |
|
Easy as you like and Carter makes it 4 to keep New Zealand in touching distance.
|
| 37 |
|
Scrappy stuff in midfield in open play and then from the scrum as South Africa knock on and then collapse. The penalty is 69 metres out, but New Zealand don't have a Steyn so Carter makes a nice touch in the 22.
|
| 38 |
|
NZ take a 3 man line out and work a lovely move, popping the ball back to the hooker, but are unable to break though first time.
|
| 39 |
|
WIth no obvious option on, New Zealand decline to work the phases and go for an early grubber kick, which is cleaned up easily and South Africa have the 22.
|
| 40 |
|
Another ball spun wide by New Zealand and then hacked ahead, but again too long and the Springboks secure the 22 as the halftime whistle goes.
It's a tough physical game and more even than the 10 poijnt margin makes it look. New Zelaand have had the edge in terms of territory and yards won. They've also had the advantage at the breakdown and have secured their points forcing penalties for Carter's 4 goals.
However South Africa have been secure at the set pieces, and most importantly, have taken points at every opportunity. They have scored through 1 snap drop goal, 3 penalties from their own half and a try from a relatively unpromising position.
New Zealand are still in this game if they can up their level a bit but have a long way to go to secure the bonus points and keep themselves in the Tri-nations. Time for a quick cuppa, or whatever is your poison, and the second half kicks off in a few minutes.
|
| 40 |
|
Almost the worst possible start for NEw Zealand. After some very early exchanges, a big up-and-under from Steyn is shelled by Sivivatu and collected by the onrushing springboks. The scrambled defence just holds them at the line and an accidental offside gives New Zealand the scrum and a chance to escape.
|
| 43 |
|
A missed drop kick. But that doesn' really tell the story. Carter has to use all his skill to collect and clear from a bad pass, Steyn takes the ball in his own half and launches a huge drop goal, which missed by inches, it was on the halfway line and almost on the right touchline.
|
| 44 |
|
The All Blacks again win the kicking game, securing the lineout in South Africa's half. Once more they don't uitlise the territory gained as the throw-in is not straight.
|
| 45 |
|
Big up-and-under again, but Rokocoko is strong this time. South Africa have obviously decided that this tactic is going to work today.
|
| 46 |
|
THe All Blacks show glimpses of how they want to play their game and their ability. Read starts it with a charge up the right wing and the ball is spun back the other way with strong running from Donald and Sivivatu. Nonu picks it up physically but loses it forward.
|
| 48 |
|
A bit of backwards and forwards there, a weighted kick from Carter and a flat return from Steyn into touch. The quick lineout is taken but they were aware of Smit close at hand on the receiver.
|
| 50 |
|
There seems to be something wrong with Nonu's hands. He's great on the break, beating several men, as he barracks up field, but having done all the hard work spills the ball forward softly.
|
| 51 |
12 - 27 |
Interception and TRY Soft from Carter, who is normally so aware. He is flat and the ball is a bit slow. De Villiers anticipates well and come in at pace and Carter could not have poppd the ball up better for him.
|
| 52 |
12 - 29 |
The try was under the posts and Steyn slots it over. 17 points may be too much with 25 minutes to go.
|
| 54 |
|
New Zealand are continuing to make things hard for themselves here. A turnover is followed by a knock-on in midfield by McCaw. Maybe they have realised that the tournament is now beyond them and that is having an effect.
|
| 55 |
17 - 29 |
TRY I'll take credit for this- because it had to happen as soon as I said it was all over. Sivivtau scores in the corner; the ball was moved wide and released him into space and once behind the defence he showed his pace and although the tackle came in it was never going to stop him.
|
| 56 |
|
Carter makes his most difficult kick of the day to reduce the margin to 10 points. They are still possibly in this.
|
| 57 |
19 - 29 |
Carter - conversion
|
| 59 |
|
Some belief seems to have seeped back into the All Blacks who are running much more directly and seem more prepared to spin the ball wide- this is the game that will give them a chance. Only an uncharacterisic forward pass from Carter, and later a more familiar knock-on from Nonu, prevents the try.
|
| 61 |
|
Still the All Blacks come though and are creating genuine pressure. THe Springbok's defence is good, but eventually concedes a penalty in front of the posts. However, NZ opt for the scrum. Aggressive and probably the right choice to keep the pressure up.
|
| 62 |
|
I'm not calling them very well today: it's looking like a much worse choice when a strong South African scrum shoves through New Zealand and wins the penalty.
|
| 63 |
|
Some nice looking stuff from the Kiwis who run up through Rokocoko and Sivivatu, but they'll need more than that to break the South Aricans, they'll need to work phases and pull the South Africans around as they are unlikely to do it with early phase ball.
|
| 64 |
22 - 29 |
Botha gives away a penalty and this time they do take the kick. Carter puts it over.
|
| 65 |
|
There are 15 minutes of this game left and NZ could still do this. A win would keep them in the tournament, even without the bonus point, however, they would need to overhaul South Africa's significant points advantage in their final game against Australia.
|
| 67 |
|
Another big bomb from du Preez down the right touch and this is making good ground, South Africa will want to play deep in New Zealand erritory. A charged-down kick pushed New Zealand furher back but a penalty gives them a chance to clear.
|
| 69 |
|
Harem Scare stuff from New Zealand. They're running from deep and running hard, the ball is taken first wide then up through the centre by the forwards. It is turned oevr, however, by strong work from Smit in the ruck. The kick is sent over the top and Muliana is isolated. He does all he can but against two men he can only concede the penalty.
|
| 71 |
22 - 32 |
Morne Steyn maintains his 100% record and stretches the lead back to 10 points, where it has been for the majority of the game. New Zealand will have to do something quickly.
|
| 73 |
|
They almost do. They move it wide at pace like only the All Blacks do. The final chip over the top clips a Springbok hand and although it falls to Nonu, the South Africans have time to scramble back. New Zealand scrum.
|
| 74 |
|
From the scrum New Zealand work a move to release Nonu on the inside ball but he knocks it up and fails to secure it. His fourth knock-on and all seem to have come in promising positions.
|
| 75 |
|
South Africa release Habana down the right at pace. He chips over but again is checked after the ball has gone, the South Africans are livid. However, play goes on and South Africa secure the ball and work it to the left. It looks threatening for New Zealand, but they turn it oevr to counter
|
| 76 |
|
New Zealand come charging back through Sivivatu. THis passage of play is quite extended and consequently the field is stretched. Carter kicks over the South African line and the chase is good finding Steyn isolated. He does well, however, to save the try and only allow New Zealand a scrum.
|
| 77 |
|
From the scrum New Zealand work the ball back to the right, they have several drives but the ball is too slow and South Africa can organise their defence.
|
| 78 |
27 - 32 |
TRY And is it a crucial one? The ball is worked back to the left and draws SA defenders in. There is little on around the ruck so Carter kicks crossfield to find McCaw right on the other touchline. He touches down unopposed. Carter'sconversion from the touchline is good, the points difference is 3 and minutes left 1.
|
| 79 |
29 - 32 |
Carter - conversion
|
| 80 |
|
It's past 80 minutes, NZ are charging the ball upfield, they must keep it live as the next whistle would be the end of hte game and the conclusions of the tournament.
Extraordinary finish to this game. New Zealand wide down the right, a late pass keeps the ball in then as the tackle comes in an over the shoulder pass is scoopd u from the feet. South Africa scramble to tackle but New Zealand retain the ball and drive it up. Carter again sees the man out wide and puts in the crossfield kick, but it is a fraction too long and can only be palmed into touch. That's the final whistle and South Africa have won. Sorry, but I was unable to justice to that last passage of play or identify all the players- it was edge of the seat stuff and all across the field but in the end not quite enough.
|
| 80+1 |
|
South Africa have won the Tri-nations with this victory. "We didn't do exactly what we wanted for the full [second] 40, but we did enough" says Smit. And that is about right. New Zealand showed a lot of spirit and plenty of attacking intent in the second half but South Africa took points where they could throughout and forced New Zealand to chase the game. When it mattered the Springbok's defence was strong and New Zealand didn't have the patience or precision to break it down. South Africa's Tri-nations victory has been built on solid set-pieces, especially the lineout, and the ability to tough it out even when teams are coming at them hard and throwing the ball around. New Zealand and Australia have closed the gap after South Africa's excellent start, but you have to say that South Africa are worthy champions as they bring home the trophy for the third time.
South Africa have proved that they are the best team in the world and now hold the Tri-nations to go with the World Cup. Smit, leading from the front, was probably the man of the match today, doing all the tough stuff and has moulded the team in his own image. He's holding up the Freedom Cup now, while Matfield collects the Tri-nations. They go down to the rest of the team who are celebrating and all looking pretty happy. This is a team that could dominate rugby for quite a while.
New Zealand and Australia now have to play next week for second place. However, with these two old rivals it will still be a hotly contested game and well worth following. Join me, Jamie Allaway, on scrum.com, same time next week.
|
