The New Zealand All Blacks have defeated South Africa in the opening Tri Nations Rugby match in appalling conditions in Wellington by 19 - 8. The match itself was absolutely physical, fast and magnificent Test Match rugby.

John Smit and Rodney So’oialo proudly led their charges onto the paddock, with both sides looking pensive the anthems and haka settled both sides and Butch James got the tournament underway with the expanded ELV's being used.

Dan Carter was taken out by Butch James in the All Blacks first attack, however Carter missed an easy first penalty. Seconds later he was given a chance to make ammends and the All Blacks were 3 - 0 ahead.

From the kick off Brad Thorn committed a poor play dropping John Smit from a height, handbags followed and the Springboks had their first opportunity to get level. James was true and the scores were locked at 3 apiece and frantic start was complete the match was only six minutes old.

With just 15 minutes on the clock this match was reaching unbelievable heights in the pace and physical contest. Utterly Absorbing.

John Smit was caught offside with 20 minutes played and Dan Carter restored the All Blacks lead, 6 - 3. Andrew Hore let the Boks straight back into the match with a professional foul at a ruck. Butch James missed the kick and the score remained 6 - 3. Dan Carter was not as generous a few minutes later, his kick took the score out to 9 - 3 with 30 minutes of the first half played.

WIth 4 minutes of the half to play more committed attack and defence from both sides saw Jean de Villiers hit a beautiful hole and set Bryan Habana clear for the opening try of the match. James missed the kick, the All Blacks still lead 9 - 8. But a blow to the Boks was to see the lose their captain Smit with a knee injury to be replaced by Bismarck du Plessis.

The second half started with the Boks looking the more confident on the back of their late try and the kiwi's were under pressure for the first time since the 1/4 final of the RWC. They responded like the champion team they are and went on the attack culminating in Jerome Kaino crossing for his and his teams first try. Dan Carter classy as ever slotted the conversion. 16 - 8 to the All Blacks.

Only some magnificent defence by Schalk Burger stopped the All Blacks moving further ahead, with 30 minutes to play the All Blacks were looking like the only winners of the Test. On 57 minutes will the All Blacks continuing to pile on the pressure, The Springboks were fortunate when New Zealand number 8 Jerome Kaino was ruled in front of the kicker when scoring a try.

The Springboks were not done yet and continued to push the All Blacks hard and created a small gap but Habana was hauled down, the introduction of Francois Steyn had given the Springboks fresh monetum. The match continued to pulsate, moving back and forth with both sides probing for scoring opportunities. Steyn almost dropped a goal from Pretoria to Wellington but failed by 6 inches and the match stepped up another gear.

New Zealand moved the ball beautifully away from their 22 and were unluckly when Montgomery intercepted with the All Blacks looking like certain scorers. The match moved into the final 10 minutes with no let up in pace or the physical contest. Nonu made a break, Macdonald was tackled early and Carter slotted the penalty to take the home side out to 19 - 8 lead.

The match moved into the final five minutes with the home team on the attack and determined to finish of the world champions. Dan Carter gave himself opportunity to be the match winning hero with a charge down and only the pace of Bryan Habana saved the visitors. The resulting scrum almost saw Brad Thorn cross but the Springboks held firm.

The match continued at an astonishing pace with the Springboks launching a superb counter attack with a minute to go, but a Habana kncock on ruled out a chance of a bonus point for the visitors.

The competition moves to Dunedin next week, if the entertainment is half as good as this then it will be a superb match.

Scorers

New Zealand:

Tries: Kaino
Con: Carter,
Pen: Carter 4,
DG:

South Africa:

Tries: Habana,
Con:
Pen: James,
DG:

Teams

All BLacks

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Greg Somerville
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Willliams
6. Adam Thomson
7. Rodney So’oialo (c)
8. Jerome Kaino
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter
11. Rudi Wulf
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Sitiveni Sivivatu
15. Mils Muliaina

Reserves:

16. Keven Mealamu
17. Neemia Tialata
18. Anthony Boric
19. Sione Lauaki
20. To be named
21. Stephen Donald
22. Leon MacDonald
 

Springboks

1.       Gurthro Steenkamp
2.       John Smit (captain)
3.       CJ van der Linde
4.       Bakkies Botha
5.       Victor Matfield
6.       Schalk Burger
7.       Juan Smith
8.       Joe van Niekerk
9.       Enrico Januarie
10.    Butch James
11.    Bryan Habana
12.    Jean de Villiers
13.    Adrian Jacobs
14.    Odwa Ndungane
15.    Conrad Jantjes
RESERVES
16.    Bismarck du Plessis
17.    Brian Mujati
18.    Andries Bekker
19.    Luke Watson
20.    Bolla Conradie
21.    Francois Steyn
22.    Percy Montgomery

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