Hansen: Where the game was won
Most pundits will point to New Zealand captain Richie McCaw's try as the match-defining moment, but All Black coach Steve Hansen point to a two-minute period of defence as the moment that turned the game.
McCaw, who made his 140th appearance for New Zealand, scored a well-executed and pre-planned try six minutes from time – which put the All Blacks in the lead for the first time since the 10th minute of the match.
The All Blacks flank confirmed that the line-out move close to the Springboks' line was a planned manoeuvre. Debutant flyhalf Lima Sopoaga converted and kicked a last-minute penalty to seal a 27-20 win that set up a tournament decider against Australia in Sydney in a fortnight's time.
However, Hansen pointed period midway through the second half, with the Boks leading 20-17 and hot on attack, as the real turning point.
"It seemed like five minutes – but it was probably only a couple of minutes – on our own goalline," he said of a period in which his team showed their championship credentials.
"We missed a tackle on the South African goalline, they ended up on ours and we defended our hearts out," Hansen added.
"It showed a lot of courage.
"If they had scored then I think it would have been very difficult to come back, but we showed the mental fortitude and the physical ability to keep getting up and making tackles."
The All Blacks, who eventually forced turnover, was further aided when the Springboks lost a second tighthead prop to injury – Vincent Koch, who replaced Jannie du Plessis at half-time, left the field – resulting in uncontested scrums.
"No-one in the world has three tighthead props in their team and we had to go to 'golden oldies' [uncontested] scrums," Hansen said.
"We were down to seven men versus eight and that would have been a tough spot to get out of – that was a massive turning point."
McCaw also spoke of the team's character in coming back from behind to clinch a late winner against their arch rivals.
"We kept persevering when behind and took our opportunities when they came," said McCaw, who needs one more cap to equal the world record of retired Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll.
"Keeping the Springboks scoreless when we were down to 14 men was crucial and we held our nerve before hitting back.
"We were on the back foot for the first 40 minutes and we had a good look at ourselves at half-time.
"We were pretty lucky that the try right on half-time got us back into the game. Towards the end of the game we started to get on top, but it as pretty brutal."
McCaw, as always, was gracious and praised the opposition for their role in another classic All Blacks versus Springboks contest.
"Give credit to South Africa, too, as they had us under the pump during the first half. It was a satisfying victory, but we can do a lot better.
"It is not always going to go your way for 80 minutes, but we managed to hang in there. It is about the opportunities you get, being able to take them.
"At the end we managed to make our chances count."
As for the move that resulted in McCaw's try, Hansen made it clear it was pre-planned.
"It is the first time we've done it, but it is similar to another we've done before," he said of a match-defining try in the 2011 World Cup Final against France.
"It is just a variation on an old song.
"He [McCaw] organised it at the beginning of the week – at the moment he is loving scoring tries."
McCaw also confirmed that they had practiced it during the week.
"We actually had a debate whether it would be No.9 or myself [to collect the ball," the captain said, adding: "I pulled rank and said I will take that slot. I am pretty happy it worked."
By Jan de Koning at Ellis Park
@King365ed
@rugby365com
