Other Results

	5 Feb 2012
	Ireland	21	23	Wales	(17-22)
	4 Feb 2012
	Scotland	6	13	England	(9-17)
	France	30	12	Italy	(34-13)
	3 Dec 2011
	Wales	18	24	Australia	(17-25)
	19 Nov 2011
	Spain	16	13	Uruguay	(25-21)
	23 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	8	7	France	(36-13)
	21 Oct 2011
	Australia	21	18	Wales	(21-17)
	16 Oct 2011
	New Zealand	20	6	Australia	(36-21)

South Africa v New Zealand - Durban, June 26, 2007

Match Report

This game was to be the first true 'test' of the New Zealand side this year after a series of one sided internationals against France and Canada. And South Africa would looking for their second win in a row after beating Australia in a magnificent come from behind win last week. The game was building up to be a corker. 53,000 rugby fans had turned up to see these two sides go head to head for the first time this season in a possible rehearsal of the World Cup final later this year.

South Africa came out firing on all cylinders and caught New Zealand at sixes and sevens a couple of times. After a great attack Percy Montgomery slotted the first points of the game with a penalty to give South Africa the early lead 3 to nothing.

The New Zealand lineout looked very shaky at the start with South Africa stealing or disrupting two or three New Zealand thrown ins early on, with Victor Matfield looking very impressive.

Ruan Pienaar got the next points after South Africa were awarded another penalty. Pienaar, taking the longer kicks, slotted the 52 yarder and made the score 6 - 0 after 19 minutes. The score line reflecting the early dominance of South Africa as New Zealand look totally unsettled by the physicality of the opposition.

New Zealand put together there first sustained attack with a great forward effort and are awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck. Carter slots the penalty to pull New Zealand within three, 6 - 3. The game is beginning to open up with great running moves by both teams.

After sustained pressure from New Zealand, the scores are leveled when Carter kicks a second penalty. The score 6 all with five minutes left in the half.

South Africa went back on to the attack after a New Zealand turnover and from a five metre lineout they drive over for the first try of the game to Burger. Montgomery misses the conversion and the half time hooter went before a restart is possible. South Africa took a deserved 11 - 6 lead into the sheds.

The second half opens with a drop goal to Mauger to pull New Zealand within two points, 11 - 9.

However a mistake from Mauger gives Butch James an easy try after Mauger popped the ball up straight into James' hands. The number 10 ran 25 metres uncontested and with the Montgomery conversion, South Africa stretch out to an 18 to 9 lead.

In the 56th minute after repeated infringements at the breakdown plus a warning in the first half, South Africa find themselves down to 14 men when sub Wannenburg is sinbinned. To make matters worse Carter kicks the penalty and New Zealand pull back to within six points, 18 to 12.

Other than Carter's penalty South Africa concede no more points during the ten minutes, and in fact Montgomery kicked a penalty to give them a nine point lead just as Wannenburg returned to the game.

New Zealand put the pressure on again after a great midfield run by Rodney So'oialo and Ritchie McCaw dived \over for the first New Zealand try and with Carter's conversion making it 21 to 19, the game is set up for an exciting last ten minutes.

New Zealand upped the tempo again and three minutes later Rokocoko scores a second New Zealand try after a 75 metre move. Carter converts to give New Zealand the lead 26 to 21 for the first time in the game with 7 minutes to go.

The next seven minutes saw South Africa throwing everything into the game but the All Blacks held firm and saw the game out for a 26 to 21 victory. The game was indeed a thriller and provided some great rugby, however the All Blacks seemed to have more energy left at the death and were able to come from behind to seal a very important away win in the always tight Tri Nations competition.