Springboks too strong for under-par All Blacks

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The Springboks have lived up to their Tri-nations favourites tag after surviving a strong second-half comeback to beat the All Blacks 28-19 in Bloemfontein this morning.

The home team were gifted plenty of possession deep in All Blacks territory in the first-half after a combination of whistle-happy Irish referee Alain Rolland and poor decision making and were able to make it count.

And for the second week running the All Blacks were left with a double-figure deficit and only started playing when their backs were against the wall.

The visitors briefly looked like they might steal the win after the ever-classy Conrad Smith scored a fantastic try early in the second half, but a breakaway try in the last 10 minutes to Jaque Fourie broke the All Blacks' hearts and secured the win for the Springboks.

And it was a deserved victory after a strong first period from the pumped up Springboks.

After the South African fans did their best to drown out the haka, the All Blacks showed their intentions early by keeping the ball in play rather than kicking to touch.

And it was the visitors who drew first blood when Stephen Donald kept up his good kicking form from last week's Bledisloe Cup Test to nail a penalty after Sitiveni Sivivatu was blocked after kicking.

Fullback Francois Steyn then showed his incredible kicking range with the equalising penalty on the angle from the half-way line after Rolland penalised New Zealand at the breakdown.

First five-eighth Ruan Pienaar hit the post with consecutive penalties for the Springboks and Donald couldn't find the distance from just inside the South African half as the teams wrestled for superiority.

Pienaar finally succeeded after Jerome Kaino was pinged for bringing down a ruck, the fourth penalty in quick succession against New Zealand, drawing a final warning from referee Rolland.

And it was the man with the whistle rather than either of the two teams who was the major factor in the game as the first half progressed.

He twice penalised Brendon Leonard for incorrect feeding of the scrum and then somehow missed a Springbok on the ground making a tackle on Muliaina which led to a dangerous five-metre scrum for the home-side as they looked to take advantage of the territory.

And take advantage they did, with the opening try from a second quick scrum near the goal-line.

The ball was worked left and Conrad Smith pulled off a brilliant tackle on Jean de Villiers, but the Springbok second five was able to feed Pienaar who took advantage of a Ma'a Nonu slip to score in the corner.

And if the task wasn't hard enough on the altitude of the Highveld, the All Blacks then conspired to give up more points with terrible decision making.

Prop Neemia Tialata tried to be clever with a 22-drop out and, despite a Springbok knock-on, the home side were able to increase the pressure on the All Blacks line, drawing the defence offside for Steyn to increase the lead.

The All Blacks finally showed a glimpse of what they were capable of as the hooter went for half-time, with the ball being spread wide and Nonu and Sivivatu making good ground, but it fizzled out and the players headed back to the sheds.

After some early positive signs in the second half the All Blacks once again gave up three points after Smith was incorrectly penalised for being offside, replacement Morne Steyn kicking the goal.

But the try the visitors desperately needed came in the 49th minute. The ball was worked left after a scrum and Donald fed the impressive Smith. He shrugged off a poor Morne Steyn tackle and had the strength to push past de Villiers and JP Pietersen for the try. Donald converted.

Victor Matfield then conceded a penalty after straying offside, Donald landing the three points from the right wing but Morne Steyn quickly replied to ease the Springboks nerves.

But the All Blacks sensed the momentum had changed and continued to press after Jerome Kaino stole the ball at the scrum. The visitors pushed forward but weren't able to get any quick ball thanks to good defensive work from the Springboks.

Matfield then drew the referee's wrath at the breakdown allowing Donald to once more cut the lead with the game in the balance.

But just as it looked like the All Blacks were going to finally break through the Springboks nabbed the try that sealed the game for the Springboks.

New Zealand took way too long to get organised at the breakdown deep in Springboks territory. When replacement Piri Weepu finally threw the pass Jason Eaton wasn't able to hold on and the ball was kicked through.

Pierre Spies did brillianty to chase his own kick and put pressure on the retreating defence, and after yet more errors from the men in black the ball worked wide to centre Jaque Fourie who cantered over for the try.

Donald briefly gave the All Blacks hope of stealing the win, but the deadly Morne Steyn converted a late penalty from the half-way line to seal the victory and deny the visitors a bonus point.

The All Blacks now have a week to prepare for the second Test at King's Park in Durban next weekend knowing they have to cut the number of errors if they want keep their Tri-nations defence on track.

South Africa 28 (Ruan Pienaar, Jaque Fourie Tries; Morne Steyn (3), Francois Steyn (2), Ruan Pienaar Penalties)

H/T: 14-3