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All Blacks outlast Boks to extend run, Wallabies rally past Pumas
Source: Agencies |
September 16, 2012, Sunday
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DROPPED scrum-half Aaron Smith was the All Blacks hero yesterday, coming on to score a game-changing solo try as New Zealand defeated South Africa 21-11 in the Rugby Championship.
The bruising battle in Dunedin kept the host unbeaten after four matches while the injury-hit Springboks saw their record slump to one win, a draw and two losses.
Smith, who had been dropped to the bench for breaking team protocol, was introduced for the second half with the All Blacks holding a slim 5-3 lead.
Then midway through the half, with the scores locked at 8-8, he snapped the deadlock with a brilliant solo try when he darted around the side of a ruck and scampered 30 meters to the line.
At Gold Coast, Australia needed tries from Pat McCabe and Digby Ioane in the last 24 minutes to overturn a 13-point deficit and edge Argentina 23-19 in a dramatic clash.
The Pumas looked to be on their way to a first victory in their maiden season in the southern hemisphere's international championship after tries from Tomas Leonardi and Julio Farias Cabello inside two minutes early in the second half.
The error-prone Wallabies, however, dug deep and battled back with center McCabe finally breaching the Argentine defense on the hour mark and winger Ioane following suit nine minutes later.
The victory put the Wallabies second in the championship standings with eight points.
In Dunedin, the All Blacks scored two tries, to Israel Dagg and Smith, while Aaron Cruden kicked three penalties and a conversion.
South Africa's points came from an exceptional try to Bryan Habana and penalties to Morne Steyn and Johan Goosen.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Smith's all-round performance was the response he expected from Smith.
"He really had only one response he could deliver to be satisfied, and that was to come out and play well, and he certainly did that. He scored a great try and he came out and made a difference."
Hansen has never revealed what Smith did to earn the rebuke.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer said his side had the right plan but did not have the execution. "We put them under a lot of pressure in the first half especially when it was still 5-3, but you have to convert that pressure into points," he said.
"That's the difference between the sides. Whenever they put pressure on us or got an opportunity, they got points and we didn't."
South Africa could be considered unlucky not to have won just its second test in Dunedin, missing 20 points from poor goal kicking.
The win extended the All Blacks' unbeaten run to 14 games, four short of the world record 18 held by Lithuania.
The bruising battle in Dunedin kept the host unbeaten after four matches while the injury-hit Springboks saw their record slump to one win, a draw and two losses.
Smith, who had been dropped to the bench for breaking team protocol, was introduced for the second half with the All Blacks holding a slim 5-3 lead.
Then midway through the half, with the scores locked at 8-8, he snapped the deadlock with a brilliant solo try when he darted around the side of a ruck and scampered 30 meters to the line.
At Gold Coast, Australia needed tries from Pat McCabe and Digby Ioane in the last 24 minutes to overturn a 13-point deficit and edge Argentina 23-19 in a dramatic clash.
The Pumas looked to be on their way to a first victory in their maiden season in the southern hemisphere's international championship after tries from Tomas Leonardi and Julio Farias Cabello inside two minutes early in the second half.
The error-prone Wallabies, however, dug deep and battled back with center McCabe finally breaching the Argentine defense on the hour mark and winger Ioane following suit nine minutes later.
The victory put the Wallabies second in the championship standings with eight points.
In Dunedin, the All Blacks scored two tries, to Israel Dagg and Smith, while Aaron Cruden kicked three penalties and a conversion.
South Africa's points came from an exceptional try to Bryan Habana and penalties to Morne Steyn and Johan Goosen.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Smith's all-round performance was the response he expected from Smith.
"He really had only one response he could deliver to be satisfied, and that was to come out and play well, and he certainly did that. He scored a great try and he came out and made a difference."
Hansen has never revealed what Smith did to earn the rebuke.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer said his side had the right plan but did not have the execution. "We put them under a lot of pressure in the first half especially when it was still 5-3, but you have to convert that pressure into points," he said.
"That's the difference between the sides. Whenever they put pressure on us or got an opportunity, they got points and we didn't."
South Africa could be considered unlucky not to have won just its second test in Dunedin, missing 20 points from poor goal kicking.
The win extended the All Blacks' unbeaten run to 14 games, four short of the world record 18 held by Lithuania.
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