New Zealand 19-8 South Africa: Boks left all black and blue

New Zealand 19-8 South Africa

NEW Zealand extended their unbeaten home run to 30 matches yesterday with a gutsy victory over South Africa.

In the opening Tri-Nations match in Wellington, the new-look All Blacks, without injured captain Richie McCaw and in freezing wet and windy conditions, triumphed thanks to the boot of Dan Carter and a try from Jerome Kaino.

Bryan Habana's touchdown for the Springboks gave the visitors hope but they were second-best in a hugely physical contest.

It was the first time a Test match had been played under the Experimental Law Variations, and though the new rules allow for a more expansive game, the conditions, especially in the first half, meant both teams opted to kick or keep the play close rather than spreading the ball through the backs.

The physicality of the contest was evident from the outset with Boks fly-half Butch James making a late charge on opposite number Carter inside the opening minute.

Carter could not make the most of the penalty, missing a straightforward shot in front of goal, but he made no mistake in the fourth minute when he banged over a three-pointer.

Brad Thorn was lucky not to be sin-binned moments later when he picked Springboks hooker John Smit off his feet and dropped him to the ground after Adam Thomson had caught full-back Conrad Jantjes with a high tackle to spark pushing and shoving, before

James levelled the score with the resulting penalty.

Carter extended the All Blacks' lead to 6-3 with another penalty in the 20th minute when Smit was penalised for offside.

James wasted an opportunity to close the gap when Andrew Hore was penalised for offside in the 25th minute, but Carter made no mistake with his fourth attempt of the night when Boks No.8 Joe van Niekerk, who had put team-mate Adrian Jacobs under huge pressure in his own 22 with an awful pass, then compounded the error by being caught offside.

Then, four minutes before half-time and against the run of play, wing Habana dived over for the opening try of the match.

The All Blacks surrendered possession at the breakdown in the Boks half and a well-weighted pass from Jacobs found fellow midfielder Jean de Villiers, who sent Habana in at the corner.

James failed to add the conversion and the All Blacks held on for a slender 9-8 lead at the break.

The All Blacks were quick out of the blocks in the second half with Kaino scoring his first international try and Carter adding the conversion for a 16-8 lead.

In the end it was Carter who had the final say, slotting his final penalty with nine minutes to play.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; S Sivivatu, C Smith, M Nonu, R Wulf; D Carter, A Ellis; J Kaino, R So'oialo, A Thomson, A Williams, R Thorn, G Somerville, A Hore, T Woodcock. Replacements: K Mealamu, N Tialata, A Boric, S Lauaki, J Cowan, S Donald, L MacDonald.

South Africa: C Jantjes; O Ndungane, A Jacobs, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, R Januarie; J van Niekerk, J Smith, S Burger, V Matfield, B Botha, CJ van der Linde, J Smit, G Steenkamp. Replacements: B du Plessis, B Mujati, A Bekker, L Watson, B Conradie, F Steyn, P Montgomery.

Scorers: New Zealand – Try: Kaino; Conversion: Carter; Penalties – Carter (4). South Africa: Try – Habana; Penalty – James

Referee: S Dickinson (Australia)