Rugby Championship: New Zealand hold off South Africa in Wellington
Last Updated: 13/09/14 7:44pm
A second-half try from skipper Richie McCaw helped New Zealand to a 14-10 win over South Africa in their Rugby Championship clash in Wellington.
The Springboks had led 7-6 at the break thanks to a superb 17th minute try from Cornal Hendricks but eight minutes into the second period Kieran Read collected Aaron Cruden's cross-field kick and offloaded to McCaw, who crossed in the corner.
That put the All Blacks 11-7 in front and, although a Handre Pollard drop goal cut the deficit to just a single point, sub Beauden Barrett's penalty gave the hosts a little breathing space again.
South Africa poured on pressure at the death but New Zealand held firm to win a pulsating Test match.
New Zealand (16) now lead the table by six points from Australia and South Africa who are level on 10 points apiece after four rounds of action, while Argentina - still searching for their first win - prop up the table with two points.
Cruden slotted an 11th-minute penalty to give the hosts a 3-0 lead after a slow start to proceedings in blustery conditions in New Zealand's capital.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer's decision to include Pollard at No 10 proved to be an astute one when his defence-splitting inside pass found Hendricks and the wing evaded Israel Dagg's tackle to touch down in the 17th minute. Pollard added the conversion to give the Springboks a 7-3 lead.
Danger
The All Blacks, who had conceded only one try in three 2014 Rugby Championship encounters prior to this game, hit back with a ferocious drive by their forward pack and Cruden slotted a second penalty when French referee Jerome Garces penalised South Africa for being offside at the breakdown.
Cruden then peppered the left channel with a series of chip-kicks over the South Africa defence but full-back Willie le Roux mopped up the danger on every occasion and the Springboks went into the half-time break with a slender 7-6 lead.
The All Blacks started the second half in blistering fashion and went into an 11-7 lead when McCaw dotted down in the corner after Kieran Read collected Cruden's pin-point cross-field kick, wrestled free from Le Roux's grasp and slipped a reverse pass to his skipper two metres from the try line.
Cruden could not add the extras from the touchline and, after Aaron Smith lost a foot race with Willie le Roux as the full-back touched down Cruden's grubber kick behind his try line for a 22-metre drop out, Pollard reduced the deficit to just one point with a sweetly struck drop goal.
Both sides made changes on the hour mark and South Africa had the chance to take the lead a few minutes later when the All Blacks were penalised for infringing at the breakdown, but Pollard could not slot his first penalty of the evening.
Julian Savea broke three South Africa tackles in a rampaging 50-metre run down the left wing and South Africa's sprawling defence were forced to concede a penalty which Barrett, on for Cruden, duly slotted to stretch the All Blacks' lead to 14-10.
South Africa kept plugging away and spent the final few minutes camped on the New Zealand try line but the All Black defence, despite losing possession in a scrum in the final moments, held firm to grind out the victory.
