Boks Buried, ABs Halfway There
27/08/2006
Marc Hinton
One down, one to go. The All Blacks brushed aside the Springboks 45-26 in their Tri Nations test in Pretoria to take a giant stride towards their ambition of claiming a 2-0 series victory in the republic.
With the Tri Nations title already tucked away after last week's win over the Wallabies in Auckland, Graham Henry's all-conquering New Zealand rugby side has set its sights on winning its "series" in South Africa - a feat only achieved once before by the All Blacks, a decade ago.
And on the strength of this display, with the All Blacks winning with some ease five tries to three, despite a belated South African fightback, that feat will be crossed off next weekend in Rustenburg to sit alongside the myriad of others already achieved under Henry.
This was, after some initial discomfort, another outstanding display by the All Blacks who shook off uninformed suggestions of second-class status after Henry made 11 personnel changes to his starting XV and showed that whatever side the coach sends out in this era, it's a more than capable one.
Probably the only black mark on another fine day for these New Zealanders, who achieved their 15th test victory on the trot and their first in South Africa under Henry, was the worrying injury list. Leon MacDonald, Greg Somerville and Chris Masoe all hobbled off with knocks that put them in major doubt for next week.
Still, Henry has plenty up his sleeve in this touring squad and assuredly he will make more changes next week, and send out another capable side who can put the finishing touches to this ambition of becoming just the second New Zealand side to claim a series in the republic.
In a high-octane opening half the All Blacks had to endure two match-ending injuries to key personnel, a fairly brutal opening assault from the Boks, a couple of butchered try opportunities by Isaia Toeava and a clear case of the lineout wobbles to eventually take a 16-11 lead into the sheds.
It was a try apiece in the opening stanza, Fourie du Preez's snipe down the blindside from poor All Black work at a ruck after 10 minutes being offset by an excellent touchdown to prop Neemia Tialata via a beautifully judged Carter crosskick.
The All Blacks score, eight minutes before the break, was vital as it not only allowed them to get their noses in front 13-11, but it finally punished the South Africans in a spell where Graham Henry's men were not at their predatory best.
It was a tough first 40 for the New Zealanders, with fullback MacDonald having to be replaced by Toeava after just a dozen minutes with a knock to his hip and prop Somerville limping off three minutes later with a leg injury that brought Tony Woodcock into proceedings.
It was a far from perfect first 40 from the New Zealanders, though they looked by far the more likely side with the Springboks reliant on the kicking game and reluctant to offer much by way of ball in hand.
On the other hand the All Blacks created some gilt-edged openings, two of which were ruined by shocking hands from supposed wonder kid Toeava. He spilt a relatively comfortable pass after 16 minutes with an overlap on as the New Zealanders attacked from deep and then not long from halftime he grassed a pass from Mils Muliaina when a try looked a certainty from a move sparked by Chris Masoe.
As usual the All Blacks had plenty to thank the superb Carter for, the gifted one banging over a perfect four from four (including a mammoth 60m effort just before halftime) and weighing in with some fine tactical kicking.
And Henry's men made the ideal start to the second spell, Carter adding a penalty after four minutes and Luke McAlister doubling the try tally two minutes later for a commanding 26-11 lead.
The try was a beaut, too, sparked by Muliaina from deep as he returned a kick with plenty of interest, the fullback finding Sitiveni Sivivatu on the left flank and McAlister on hand to take the inpass and easily beat du Preez who was a despairing last line of defence.
If the Boks were in a hole at that stage, it became a chasm soon after when the New Zealanders ran in two more sparkling tries in two minutes for a 38-14 lead that effectively put the match on ice.
Sivivatu had the first - his ninth in nine tests - when replacement loosie Jerry Collins (on after Masoe injured his knee) tapped a penalty, shook off a tackle and put his winger away for a 30m run in to the corner and the on-fire Muliaina the second when Ali Williams ignited a flowing move with an intercept and run, McAlister on hand to provide the key injection of pace.
The Boks then threatened a dramatic resurgence when impressive midfielder Jacque Fourie crossed for two tries in a six-minute spell before Rico Gear rounded out the All Black scoring, and took the margin back out to 19, with a runaway touchdown sparked again by quick thinking from Collins.
This time it was turnover ball deep in their own territory and when Collins, ever sharp, looked up and saw wide open space he put through a peach of a kick. Gear won the chase and it was all over red rover as an at-times testy encounter had the seal put on it.
The All Blacks' two principal performers were again outstanding, the skipper leading the way with another committed display in the loose and Carter stamping his class all over this match with a 20-point haul, including that fabulous hoof from 60m out.
But Muliaina also had another fine match, more so when he moved back to fullback where the extra space adds another dimension to his game. McAlister also backed up on his excellent efforts of last week with another eye-catching display while Sivivatu and Gear were always likely as they underlined the theory that this was close to the All Blacks' best backline.
Up front the scrum did well to shake off the early loss of Somerville, the lineout wobbled at times but got there in the end and the New Zealanders generally won the battle round the field. Williams produced a high workrate, Masoe was sharp at No 8 till injury struck and Tialata had a useful sort of match capped by a well-deserved try. Greg Rawlinson will also have enjoyed this immensely against his former countrymen, while Collins was all class after his late injection.
The Boks were too one-dimensional and too limited in their attack, as they have been all season. Once they chanced their arm late in the piece they played their best rugby, with Fourie's two tries reward for that. Once again there were attempts to unsettle McCaw off the ball, but it came to nought, apart from a few minor dustups.
This was in the end another very satisfying test victory from the All Blacks. But they will know the job is only half done. Until next weekend the champagne stays on ice.
South Africa 26: Jacque Fourie 2, Fourie du Preez try; Percy Montgomery 2 pen, Butch James pen, Andre Pretorius con.
New Zealand 45: Neemia Tialata, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear tries; Daniel Carter 4 pen 4 con. Ht: 11-16.
