All Blacks break Bok hearts

The All Blacks regained their Tri-Nations crown with a dramatic 29-22 victory in a pulsating encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Skipper Richie McCaw and fullback Israel Dagg shattered Springbok hearts with late, late tries after the hosts, with a five-point lead and just three minutes to go, had looked all set to win.

None will be more devastated at the cruel twist of fate than South Africa skipper John Smit, who was making his 100th appearance for his country .

Earlier Smit had run out to a seismic roar from a near 95,000-strong crowd at the FNB Stadium - the biggest assembly at a rugby match in the country for almost half a century.

And if they were hoping to see the Springboks bounce back from a string of disappointing Tri-Nations performances they would not be disappointed - not, at least, for 77 minutes.

Devastating

The Boks were almost unrecognisable from the side that had crashed to abject defeats to both New Zealand and Australia during their away legs of the competition.

Smit's men, back on home soil, played with passion and power and matched their opponents stride for stride for much of the encounter.

And even when McCaw's try levelled the scores with three minutes left there still appeared to be some life in the wounded Boks - until Dagg delivered his devastating coup de grace in the dying seconds.

All Black fly-half Dan Carter put the first points on the board in the sixth minute, slotting an outstanding 50 metre penalty from a difficult angle after Springbok centre Juan De Jongh was pinged for a high tackle on winger Cory Jane.

But five minutes later Morne Steyn showed that he too was no slouch with the boot either when the visitors were caught coming in from the side.

The Springbok fly-half squared the scores with a sweetly struck 38 metre kick from wide on the left and, after just two more minutes, was bang on target again with another long range attempt when prop Ben Franks was penalised for not rolling away.

Carter saw his own distance kick bounce off the left upright on 16 minutes, but he soon made amends with a simpler effort after Steyn was caught offside at a ruck.

Bludgeoned

The opening try came in the 24th minute after a blistering break upfield by Brian Habana saw the Springboks pressuring deep inside All Black territory.

And when Steyn, faced with a kickable penalty, opted to take it quickly instead, Schalk Berger bludgeoned his way over from close range with the help of his pack.

Steyn added the extras to put the hosts into a 13-6 lead, but three minutes later Carter reduced the deficit to four with a huge kick from the halfway line.

New Zealand's reply came four minutes before the break, Tony Woodcock cantering down the left touchline to score when the All Blacks whipped the ball wide.

Carter however, sent his conversion wide, leaving the scores on 16-14 and the Springboks with their noses narrowly in front at the interval.

New Zealand found themselves in trouble almost straight from the restart when Pierre Spies' free kick found the Springboks camped on the visitors' line.

But the hosts had to settle for a scrum when Hougaard's pass found only the referee's back.

A massive drive by the Boks forwards however, brought a deserved penalty and Steyn slotted over a straightforward effort to restore his side's lead to five points.

Stunned

Steyn made it five from five on 63 minutes with a huge penalty from over 50 metres to extend the Springbok lead to 22-14.

Three minutes later though, Jane went close but was bundled into touch inches short by the omnipresent Berger.

And when South Africa were penalised for blocking close to their line Carter closed the gap to 22-17.

Carter missed a crucial opportunity to put his side closer as the game entered the final six minutes, sending an easy penalty wide after Francois Louw was pinged for hands in.

But with three minutes left on the clock Riche McCaw went in at the corner for the visitors' second try when the All Blacks again whipped the ball wide.

The television official confirmed the try after an agonising wait but Carter missed his conversion, leaving the scores level and setting up a nail-biting finale.

With a minute to go however, Ma'a Nonu burst through the Bok line before feeding Dagg outside, and the replacement fullback skipped in to put his side in front for the first time since the sixth minute.

Carter added the extras to close out the game as New Zealeand celebrated their 10th Tri Nations title and a stunned South Africa struggled to come to terms with what had just happened.