The All Blacks have battled out a 29-15 win over South Africa in a grueling Rugby Championship encounter last night.
Stand in captain Kieran Read opened the scoring for the hosts in the first five minutes, ahead of what turned out to be an exciting first half.
All Blacks first-five Daniel Carter left the field in the 14th minute with a shoulder injury, after a brutal tackle from Springboks hooker Bismarck Du Plessis.
Television Match Official George Ayoub ruled there was nothing illegal in Du Plessis' tackle, but the referee overruled the decision and sent Du Plessis to the sin bin.
The All Blacks struck back in Du Plessis' absence with a try to Brodie Retallick, but the Springboks hooker crossed over for a try shortly after returning to the field.
Du Plessis was issued a red card early in the second half, after raising an elbow while tackling Liam Messam which copped him in the chin.
The All Blacks then managed to break the Springboks defense twice with tries to Kieran Read and Sam Cane.
The result puts the All Blacks at the top of the Rugby Championship ladder, four points clear of the Springboks.
The two sides will meet again in Johannesburg in early October.
Meanwhile the Wallabies finally notched their first win under new coach Ewen McKenzie with a 14-13 triumph over Argentina last night.
The next matches will be on the 29th of this month with the All Blacks facing the Pumas at 10.40am while the Springboks meet the Wallabies at 3am.
Story by: Rusiate Baleilevuka
Source: Radiosport
