Sunday, August 22, 2010

TEST RUGBY: New Zealand Take The Tri Nations

21.08.2010
New Zealand 29, South Africa 21 in Johanesburg (Tri Nations)

Briefly
New Zealand secured the Tri Nations Trophy for 2010 with this win in front of 94,000 in the stadium in Soweto made famous by the soccer world cup. The All Blacks scored three tries to one but had to score two in the last three minutes to win the game. Dan Carter had an off-day with the boot.

South Africa came into this game determined to erase the poor form of their tests in 2010 to date. They played with an intensity that knocked the All Blacks off their game, especially in the first half. But it couldn't last. The New Zealanders had the territorial advantage for much of the second half but the usually reliable Carter could not convert South African mistakes into points. Finally, it was two tries scored in the last three minutes, to captain McCaw and Dagg, that sealed the game and the Trophy.

For South African captain John Smit his 100th test match was a disappointment not only for the loss. He did not have a good game himself.

South Africa now face Australia twice at home and then New Zealand plays Australia in Sydney for what is now a dead rubber.

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