New Zealand edge South Africa to reach Rugby World Cup final
Last Updated: 25/10/15 7:24pm
New Zealand were twice forced to come from behind as they beat South Africa 20-18 in a bruising World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.
Despite a sixth-minute try from Jerome Kaino, the All Blacks trailed at half-time courtesy of four penalties from Handre Pollard, with Kaino sin-binned moments before the interval.
But the World Cup holders hit the front foot on 52 minutes when replacement Beauden Barrett crossed in the corner, with Bryan Habana yellow-carded for infringing in the build-up.
Although South Africa made it a two-point game with 11 minutes remaining, the All Blacks held on in the pouring rain to progress to a fourth World Cup final.
Dan Carter kicked 10 points for the victors, including a second-half drop goal while Kaino was in the bin, and he helped New Zealand maintain their territorial advantage at the death.
South Africa burst out of the traps at Twickenham with centres Damian De Allende and Jesse Kriel both making early breaks, and a poor kick from Dan Carter that went out on the full gifted field position to the Boks.
Pollard opened the scoring on three minutes after New Zealand infringed at a maul but the All Blacks' response was almost immediate, Kieran Read throwing a basketball pass to Kaino, who bounced off Lood de Jager to score in the corner.
Carter landed the conversion at the second attempt after Habana prematurely chased down his first effort, but Pollard hit back with his second penalty on 11 minutes to cut their deficit to one.
South Africa retook the lead midway through the half after Habana leapt highest to claim a Pollard bomb, and although he couldn't put fellow wing JP Pietersen away, play came back for a penalty which Pollard converted.
New Zealand continued to squeeze territory but they struggled to make inroads, Ma'a Nonu and Brodie Retallick losing the ball in contact and Carter hitting the post from a penalty.
The Boks invited pressure by losing three lineouts but they soaked up endless All Blacks pressure, and were rewarded late in the half when Kaino conceded a brainless yellow card for kicking the ball from the wrong side of the ruck.
Pollard posted the penalty that pushed South Africa 12-7 to the good at the interval.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, New Zealand continued to control the territory after the restart as Carter potted a drop goal.
Julian Savea failed to collect Carter's smart grubber but the All Blacks struck after Schalk Burger knocked on carrying into contact.
Playing advantage for a deliberate knock-on by Habana, Ma'a Nonu cut inside to out, dragging in two defenders before putting replacement Barrett over in the left corner.
Carter nailed a difficult conversion and, to exacerbate South Africa's uphill task, Habana was sent to the bin.
Pollard kicked a penalty after South Africa again battered New Zealand's scrum, and although that was quickly cancelled out by Carter, Pollard made it six from six on the hour mark after New Zealand were penalised at a maul.
The driving rain was causing multiple handling errors for both sides, but New Zealand resumed their territorial dominance at the death as they held on for a narrow victory.
