ABs defence shuts out Springboks

Dan Carter's goal kicking may have been off, but the All Blacks first five believes the side's collective tactical boots paved the way for this morning's 19-0 win over South Africa.

Captain Richie McCaw also hailed the side's Herculean defensive effort and complete domination at the breakdown after a game that was resounding proof of how rugby's ELVs are taking the modern game to a new level.

The All Blacks outscored the Springboks three tries to nil to ruin fullback Percy Montgomery's 100th test celebrations and move into pole position to win the Tri-Nations.

A shin injury to wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who was having x-rays last night, was the only blight on a perfect day in Cape Town.

Carter, who missed four penalties in the first half and finished with just two successes from seven attempts, had an otherwise brilliant match, scoring the decisive try with 15 minutes to play and pinning the Springboks in their own half with his boot.

"I just wasn't striking it well," Carter said after the match. "But especially in the second half I thought our tactical kicking really stepped up and we just kept making them come out of their own 22, which is tough.

"There's a big improvement there and it's become a big part of our game and one of the reasons that got us home in the end."

Backs coach Wayne Smith said a big change had been the communication between the players who were becoming each other's eyes during the aerial ping pong.

"We've been working on guys looking for space and communicating it. The champion that Dan is you can't rely on him to make all the calls and I think he's now got some good help around him."

In contrast the Springboks three key boots, halfback Fourie du Preez, first five Butch James and Montgomery, were all inconsistent, the opening kickoff going out on the full a sign of things to come.

The test had been poised at 5-0 from the seventh minute when centre Conrad Smith scored from a perfectly weighted Richie McCaw grubber.

But in the 65th minute Carter saw the tiniest of gaps in the Springbok defensive line and stepped off his left foot then reached over his head in the tackle to silence 49,653 fans.

Replacement hooker Keven Mealamu was gifted the All Blacks third try when he intercepted a crazy Jean de Villiers pass in front of his posts with five minutes to play, but by then South Africa were beaten men.

This was the post-World Cup All Blacks' finest hour, more significant than their 39-10 pummelling of Australia two weeks ago.

"They showed tremendous courage and I think that's what won the game," coach Graham Henry said. "Their courage and their fitness in the last 20 minutes. As a coach you feel very proud they had that togetherness."

For the second test in a row the All Black pack was superb despite some early wobbles in the scrum, while Richie McCaw reigned supreme at the breakdown.
Such was his dominance South African coach Peter de Villiers subbed Schalk Burger after just 60 minutes for Luke Watson in a desperate attempt to gain some continuity.

It made little difference. The Springboks managed to get past five phases just once in the match to the All Blacks' six.

And then there was the defence. Flanker Jerome Kaino had his finest match for the All Blacks, his massive shoulders shuddering South Africa's big men time and again.

So too lock Brad Thorn, who relished the physical exchanges and popped up all over the park with the ball in hand.

"Defence really set the attitude for us and when you make gang tackles it makes it a lot easier to get turnovers at the breakdown," McCaw said.

The first 40 minutes were simply breathtaking.

There were just seven line outs in the first spell.

The atmosphere was electric after 50,000 plastic drums drowned out the Piri Weepu-led Kapa O'Pango haka.

And it was brutal from the beginning, Andrew Hore sent reeling from a ruck and appearing punch drunk for several minutes.

The Springboks were determined to use the width of the field with ball in hand, but lack the skill to execute de Villiers vision for 15 man rugby.

They had their chances, hooker Bismarck du Plessis ignoring an overlap after 10 minutes and wing Bryan Habana missing out twice, once called back for a forward pass and then for a foot in touch.

"With 15 to go you could feel we were getting on top of them," McCaw said "We were playing the right part of the field and putting them under pressure in their own half, so you could feel the momentum swing our way."

And perhaps now the same could be said for the Tri-Nations tournament.

- © Fairfax NZ News