New Zealand 20
South Africa 18
The All Blacks showed the world their devastating best last weekend against France, but today they showed they know how to win ugly in greasy conditions at Twickenham.
Trys from Jerome Kaino and Beauden Barrett and a Dan Carter drop goal were the crucial scores as South Africa's opressive defensive work at the breakdown battered the All Blacks.
Anybody hoping to see the much vaunted Southern Hemisphere brand of rugby would be left disappointed as this was a game of territory, with both sides opting to kick whenever possible. It was to get worse as the rain poured down for the second half, leading to multiple unforced errors from both teams.
It was to be expected that this game would be a tight affair, with a brutally physical South African pack looking to keep the game in the forwards, while a defensive wall of green forced the All Blacks to put boot to ball.
The majority of the game was played in the Springbok half, with New Zealand having 67% of the territory. However, the South Africans gave a defensive masterclass at the breakdown with Francois Louw leading the charge.
Despite this, the Boks were extremely one dimensional throughout the game, and rarely visited the All Blacks dangerzone, but in true knockout rugby fashion, they managed to score whenever they did.
Handre Pollard got the first of his five penalties in the 3rd minute, punishing Dan Carter for kicking the ball out on the full and handing the Boks a lineout in a good attacking position, where New Zealand encroached past the offside line at the maul.
The reigning champions weren't behind for long however, as Jerome Kaino went over in the corner after Richie McCaw's pop pass opened up the space, allowing the blindside to brush past a tackle and get over in the corner.
Dan Carter landed the conversion on his second attempt and they briefly led by four points, as Pollard kicked another penalty after Richie McCaw was pinged for offside in the 11th minute.
At this stage it was clear that both sides were playing to win and not entertain, with a preference to kick to the corners rather than go wide. The game suited the Boks as they went ahead in the 21st minute thanks to another Pollard effort from 38m out.
The first half continued in this vein up until the break when Pollard kicked his fourth and Kaino was sent to the bin for kicking the ball from an offside position moments before the interval, giving them a 12-7 lead.
The second 40' saw little change in the brand of rugby on display with progress to the final the goal for both sides. A Dan Carter drop goal in the 46th minute reduced the lead before the reintroduction of Kaino and a major momentum shift.
The All Blacks brought on Barrett in place of Nehe Milner-Skudder and it paid off immediately after a Schalk Burger mistake. Close to their own line the openside fumbled possession, allowing New Zealand to move infield through Savea. They recycled possession and Aaron Smith fed Ma'a Nonu, whose carry drew in two defenders giving Barrett the space to dive over.
In the build up Bryan Habana cynically slapped the ball out of Smith's hands from the bottom of a ruck and was correctly binned once the try was scored. Carter was on point with the conversion and they led by 5.
It was a lead they wouldn't relinquish despite the best efforts of South Africa, with Pollard and Carter exchanging further penalties, before replacement fly-half Pat Lambie's 69th minute kick meant a tense finish in Twickenham.
Minimum expectation met by New Zealand, as they go one step closer to being the first side to retain the Webb-Ellis trophy.
Their opponents will be revealed tomorrow.
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