A late try to Richie McCaw from a clever lineout move earned the All Blacks a 27-20 victory over the Springboks in the Rugby Championship at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park this morning.
Captain and openside flanker McCaw, having kept his side calm when Sam Whitelock was yellow carded in the 59th minute for being offside, completed the set-piece magic by standing at halfback and then taking the ball to dart over almost unopposed.
The moment McCaw charged over in the 73rd minute the 61,000 crowd, sensing the New Zealanders were not going to be denied in the freezing conditions, started to leave their seats.
It proved the correct decision with debutant first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga kicking a penalty in the final moments to put the result beyond doubt.
South Africa led for most of the match but they could not close out the game and they now can’t win the title.
Wing Ben Smith and hooker Dane Coles also scored tries for New Zealand, with Sopoaga adding three conversions and a penalty.
Fullback Willie le Roux and young centre Jesse Kriel claimed tries for the Springboks.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies will play Argentina at 10.40am today.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
