All Blacks edge Wellington battle

If you are a Springbok supporter you have every reason to be proud. It may be pride tinged with a bit of disappointment but pride. It should be pride. Nothing beats winning, one supposes, and yet there was so much more to be proud of in this that was better than two victories over Argentina and far, far more than in the one-point defeat in Perth. And you know what? There was in that match the promise of better – a lot better.

The Springboks made the All Blacks pull out everything to secure the victory. This was a truly great Test between teams which deserve to be No.1 and No.2 in the world.

Jeremiah was a prophet of doom – put in prison for his gloomy view of the future. And then when the future arrived he was released and treated well. Springboks supporters, who have been Jeremeiahs, must feel released and in a sense well treated, not quite as well treated as they would have liked but a whole lot better treated than they had expected.

It was a wonderful Test between wto great teams intent on playing rugby. Clearly they respected each other and respected the game. There was no silliness this time. Everybody on the field could leave it satisfied.

The Springboks have played seven Tests this year, winning the first five, but this was almost certainly the best they have played.

It was a match worthy of the great tradition of rivalry that dates back to 1921.

That said, there were still Springboks weaknesses. There was still too much ineffectual kicking, often just kicking for the sake of kicking and transferring possession to the All Blacks. In the first half the All Blacks had 67% of possession and territory, but when the Springboks got the ball they were happy to hand it back. There was just one creative move from them and it led to a splendid try. And sadly their most creative player, Willie le Roux, seems to have lost it somewhere.

By way of a contrast the All Blacks counterattacked instead of kicking and kicked to space not just monotonously down the field.

The Springboks were much better in their contest for the tackle ball – much, much better. And then their line-outs and scrumming were outstanding for three-quarters of the match. In the last quarter Bismarck du Plessis came on and, whether it was an accident or not, the fact is that they lost three line-outs in succession and could not control a poor throw five metres from the All Black line and their scrums became wobbly and they conceded two penalties. They went from tight-five dominance  to coming an unconvincing second.

The All Blacks were marvellous with the ball in hand as they wove patterns and involved fullback and both wings. It speaks volumes for Springbok defence that they scored only one try and that when they cut out all their back with a high diagonal to Kieran Read.

The weather held in the packed Westpac Stadium with its 36 000 spectators on Saturday night. The match started with a rush. The Springboks kicked the first four balls they got and the All Blacks ran, even tapping their first penalty in a match of 20 penalties, divided 12-8 in the All Blacks' favour.

When Ruan Pienaar kicked out on the full from a line-out just outside the Springboks' 22, the All Blacks attacked. Bryan Habana was penalised at a tackle and Aaron Cruden goaled. 3-0 after 10 minutes.

After the bemoaning of the kicking, it was a kick by Handré Pollard that set up a great Springbok try. He kicked down to his right and the ball rolled out for an All Black line-out five metres from their line. The Springboks put on pressure and the All Blacks cleared to a line-out to South Africa just outside of their 22. Victor Matfield won the ball and gave quickly to Pienaar. Pollard played to big Duane Vermeulen who charged ahead and the Springboks won quick ball. Pienaar to Pollard who played back inside to Cornal Hendricks just outside the 22 and the right wing cut through, leaving Israel Dagg sprawled on the ground as he raced to the posts. The Springboks led 7-3 after 16 minutes.

After Le Roux had kicked, the All Blacks counterattacked through advancing phases and Richie McCaw was right at the line. The referee referred the matter to the TMO but the ball had been held up and he went back to a tackle penalty against Pienaar. 7-6 after 23 minutes.

That was the half-time score but much happened before the break.

The Springboks tapped a scrum free kick and attacked.

The Springboks shunted a maul from a line-out 15 metres downfield.

A clever short kick by Aaron South was chased by Julian Savea but Le Roux saved running it out for a line-out five metres form the Springbok line. The All Blacks bashed but Aaron Smith knocked on a pass from Read. In that defence Vermeulen's leg made contact with Pienaar's knee and the scrumhalf was carried off the field, replaced by Francois Hougaard.

On the stroke of half-time Matfield was penalised at a tackle, but Cruden missed the kick.

Ma'a Nonu did not come back for the second half. Cory Jane came on to the right wing with Ben Smith shifting to centre.

The All Blacks won the ball down the left and Cruden kicked a high kick across the field to Read on the far right. Read caught the ball and Jean de Villiers grabbed Read but McCaw came round behind Read and score in the right corner as Jan Serfontein tried to stop him. 11-7 after 46 minutes.

The Springboks lost Francois Louw at this stage, his place taken by Warren Whitely who played flank. The All Blacks then brought Same Cane on for Steven Luatua.

The Springboks won a turnover and Aaron Smith footed the ball ahead and into the Springbok in-goal but Le Roux beat him to the ball.

At this stage Bismarck du Plessis replaced Adriaan Strauss. He came on just in time to throw into a line-out, which the Springboks lost.

But the Springboks were in New Zealand territory and, to raucous booing, Pollard dropped a goal. 11-10 to New Zealand after 55 minutes.

The All Blacks changed their props and Beauden Barrett came on for Cruden.

Ben Smith was penalised at a tackle and penalised in front of his posts but near the half-way line. Pollards kick just missed an upright.

Tendai Mtawarira was penalised at a tackle and Barrett kicked an easy penalty. 14-10 with 15 minutes to play.

In those 15 minutes the Springboks did everything but score. They could have scored but opted to try to score tries instead. They bashed. The All Blacks were penalised and the Springboks tapped and bashed. The All Blacks were penalised and the Springboks had a five-metre line-out but all Matfield could do was slap the ball back and the chance of a maul was lost, but still they bashed and Serfontein's was close. They had a five-metre scrum and Vermeulen charged and was close but the All Blacks had a line-out five metres from their line. They won it and Aaron Smith kicked out for victory.

Afterwards both captains were gracious, Jean de Villiers was given his golden cap and McCaw praised him and Habana who had won his 100th cap in Perth and each was presented with a bottle that held wine.

Man of the Match: Not so easy when there are players like the three Smiths, Julian Savea, Israel Dagg, Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read around but our man of the match is the Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen who tackled with power, ran with power and won line-outs.

Moment of the Match: Cornal Hendricks's surprise try.

Villain of the Match: Nobody.

The scorers: