All Blacks shut Springboks out of game
Sportal.co.nz - 17/08/2008

Ace All Blacks first five-eighths Dan Carter might not have taken his kicking boots to Newlands but he produced a typical piece of class to score the match-winning try over South Africa in the 19-0 win Philips Tri Nations win.

The win was the first time South Africa had failed to score a point in Tests at home against the All Blacks.

The All Blacks had been attacking hard with a series of continuity plays which stretched the South African defences before Carter, who had a horror day with his goal-kicking despite registering his 800th point in Tests, spied his chance after 64 minutes and broke for the line.

He was held just short but twisted his body and stretched out while on his back to ground the ball under the posts. His conversion, apart from being the first successful goal kick for either side, gave New Zealand a 12-0 lead.

South Africa was soundly out-played and never showed the purpose the All Blacks brought to the match. The Springboks attempted to run the ball but unfamiliarity led to mistakes under pressure.

Then replacement hooker Keven Mealamu couldn't believe his luck when the Springboks tried to run the ball from their own goal-line five minutes from the end. A pass flung by second five-eighths Jean de Villiers fell into the hands of Mealamu who scored the easiest of tries.

Earlier, it was a piece of Richie McCaw magic, a kick into the Springbok ingoal area off his left foot, set up the try for centre Conrad Smith. It typified another superb game from McCaw who dominated the loose and saw off rival Schalk Burger early in the second half.

South Africa had made a nervous start with first five-eighths Butch James landing the kick-off in touch, and then a tap penalty was kicked dead by halfback Fourie du Preez.

But once the All Blacks kicked into the South Africa 22m area, a big risk was taken with a quick throw in which caused mistakes in-goal and it was from the subsequent play that Smith scored.

South Africa was let off for constant infringing on the ground with referee Matt Goddard several times telling captain Victor Matfield that he was giving a last warning.

However, three penalty goal attempts by Carter missed the mark to go with the conversion of Smith's try that he had missed earlier.

South Africa went close to scoring when wing Bryan Habana was ruled to have stood on the touchline 15m out from the goalline. Goddard insisted on having the TMO check the situation.

The first half was bruising with some hard hits from both sides but the pace of the game, and it was frenetic, seemed to take a greater toll on the South African forwards. The only injury loss was to the All Blacks with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu forced to leave the field with a leg injury. His place was taken by Isaia Toeava.

Springboks first five-eighths Butch James put a well-weighted kick to the All Blacks line and while fullback Mils Muliaina had it covered he was driven back over the line. However, the Springboks, despite several drives at the line were unable to beat the All Blacks defence and the ball was cleared.

Replacement prop John Afoa went close to scoring in the corner after some quick passing but the TMO ruled the try out after 55 minutes.

The All Blacks scrum was not as dominant as in recent games and the lineouts proved a mixed bag, but by the same token the South African lineout was not the force of earlier games.

Pressure started to tell on South Africa as kicks drifted out on the full.

Carter might not have had his goal-kicking boots on but his tactical placement was sound, especially as he played the corners in the latter stages of the game.

Springbok No.8 Pierre Spies was a constant thorn in the All Blacks side putting his athleticism to good effect with some strong runs with the ball in hand, however, he lacked consistent support against a solid All Blacks defence. Du Preez was lively while on the field and

Gold inspires glittering All Blacks
Sportal.co.nz - 17/08/2008

All Blacks coach Graham Henry believes the gold medals won by rowers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell at the Beijing Olympics inspired his side to a clinical 19-0 victory over world champion South Africa at Newlands on Saturday.

According to Henry, the unexpected glory for New Zealand's twin sisters formed the basis for the All Blacks' motivation ahead of a victory that sees them take one step closer to retaining their Philips Tri Nations title with three games left in the competition.

"The medals were an inspiration and showed a lot of courage and it was precisely that which won the game for us, that togetherness as a team," Henry said.

"We stuck to the task at hand and showed our skills and it paid off in the end."

The All Blacks were forced to defend for large periods of time, and had fewer chances than their opponents, but managed to defend their line and use the opportunities they got for a three try to nil victory.

All Black captain Richie McCaw said it was an 'epic battle up front.'

"It was a hell of a physical match and the defensive attitude of the guys really paid off in the end. They way we gang tackled the Boks and forced the turnovers, we worked hard for them and that set the standard for the game. We really targeted the start."

McCaw said that the defensive effort was the key to the win.

"They were at our line a couple of times and we also missed a few shots at goal. But some days it is like that. We really scrambled hard on defence and we knew we had to stop them. Defence sets the attitude for the game and those gang tackles slowed down their ball. It was all about attitude."

Henry had special praise for Dan Carter, who missed five kicks at goal, yet bounced back to score a try in the second half that ultimately turned the game in the All Blacks' favour.

"Dan played superbly in the last 20 and he has learnt to handle pressure situations like this. He is one of those players that has the guys to hang in there and do the business and finish."

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said he was 'disappointed' but promised that the Boks would stand up again. The world champions face two more outings against Australia in Durban and Johannesburg in the next fortnight.

"We are very disappointed at the way we played, but there was so much emotion surrounding Percy [Montgomery] this week and his 100th cap that perhaps it got to us in the first 20 minutes and it took us that long to get back into the game.

"We made simple mistakes," De Villiers added, "We didn't do a lot of things wrong but we made simple mistakes at crucial times, and we allowed the All Blacks to come into the game again.

"It's no use crying over spilt milk, but we will be back again. These guys are professionals and they will pick themselves up again. We will have our fights behind the scenes to pick the guys up. If you look at the dressing room, you look at the faces and the guys know they can do better."

Bok captain Victor Matfield admitted the chances of the Boks winning the Tri Nations were now slim.

"It's very small at the moment, but we'll stay positive and we know we can make our country proud again," he said. "We can only control what happens in the next two weeks, and that's what we want to do."

All Blacks downed in Sydney
Sportal.co.nz - 26/07/2008

Australia ran New Zealand ragged to claim a four-try bonus point 34-19 win in the first Philips Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.

It was a frenetic contest with long periods of continuity as both teams probed with some barging runs to try and break the determination of the opposing side.

New Zealand was badly hampered by injuries suffered at halfback where Andrew Ellis and Jimmy Cowan both suffered injuries which upset the flow of the All Blacks game.

They were also hampered by not being able to bring their scrum advantage into action often enough with some disappointing rulings being made against them.

Australia's loose forwards, headed by flankers George Smith and Rocky Elsom, provided all sorts of problems with great work at the breakdown and in defence. They had to because the All Blacks pressured them on the tackle time after time.

Handling lapses by New Zealand, with second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu and replacement No.8 Sione Lauaki especially vulnerable, several times upset momentum.

Another following a desperate first five-eighths Dan Carter break prevented another chance being taken to cut back Australia's lead after first five-eighths Matt Giteau's 65th minute dropped goal.

Controversy erupted when wing Sitiveni Sivivatu looked to be tackled without the ball when attempting to chase the ball over the goal-line. A penalty try option was not given by referee Craig Joubert and Australia cleared.

But then the fourth match official queried the return of halfback Andrew Ellis to the field after his replacement Jimmy Cowan had to leave with a knee injury. Cowan pulled off a superb save in his short time on the field when snaffling a Lote Tuqiri kick ahead.

It was a block-busting start and the nature of the type of play was evident in the number of times props Greg Somerville and Tony Woodcock were involved in running the ball.

They and lock Brad Thorn were especially prominent as the effort to break down the Australian spirit resulted in some rugged play.

Elsom was again prominent in the loose for Australia and it was his 54th minute try that got the home team back in the game.

Australia had all the early possession and it was into the second quarter before the All Blacks found their attacking momentum.

A strong run by Tuqiri after he was given time to field a clearing kick 11 minutes into the game. He passed three All Blacks defenders before feeding lock Nathan Sharpe.

The ball was flicked left from the maul and superb handling by first five-eighths Matt Giteau allowed centre Ryan Cross to go over for the game's first try which Giteau converted to go alongside the penalty goal he had kicked earlier.

That resulted from a swinging arm tackle by lock Brad Thorn who was sin-binned in the sixth minute.

A first turnover for the All Blacks gained a free kick in the All Blacks 22m area and it was spun wide where fullback Mils Muliaina raced down the right touchline and kicked ahead.

A wicked bounce fooled the chasers and it was Muliaina who tidied the ball and then as centre Richard Kahui twice featured in charging runs before it was Muliaina again who secured the ball and drove over to register the All Blacks first points of the night.

Wing Peter Hynes was over when chasing through on an Adam Ashley-Cooper kick which resulted after a crooked New Zealand lineout throw gave Australia a scrum feed. Giteau created speed for his line with a half break and smart work by Cross got the ball to fullback Ashley-Cooper who created the chance. Giteau's conversion gave Australia a 17-5 lead.

However, the All Blacks resorted to attack and some outstanding lead-up work, and snappy work at free-kicks resulted in the ball being moved wide to Sivivatu, he held the ball tidily to feed hooker Andrew Hore running back on the angle and he charged through like a wing to score for Carter to add the conversion.

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