All Blacks to rub salt into Bok wounds
Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:03
Disappointment: This post-match picture says it all. (c) Gallo
In what will be rubbing salt into the festering Springbok wounds, the rampant All Blacks now turn their attention to creating a record winning streak after clinching the Tri-Nations title with a dramatic 29-22 triumph over South Africa at the weekend.
Tries from captain and loose forward Richie McCaw and replacement back Israel Dagg in the closing two minutes turned a five-point deficit into a deserved success before a near-90,000 Soweto crowd.
It raised to 14 the number of consecutive Tests wins by the All Blacks since failing 32-29 at home to the Springboks last year in the annual southern hemisphere championship.
European Rugby Union minnows Lithuania hold the 18-win record established over five years before they slumped by 11 points to Ukraine last May in a European qualifier for the 2011 World Cup which New Zealand host.
To better this mark the All Blacks must defeat Australia in Sydney and Hong Kong, and England in London, Scotland in Edinburgh and Ireland in Dublin during a November 'Grand Slam' tour of Europe.
The All Blacks' biggest winning run is 17 Tests - which is a record they shared with the Boks, till Lithuania overtook the two giants.
That 17-Test winning streak is still a record for Tier One nations - given that Lithuania seldom, if ever, play above Tier Three.
Only the bravest punters would bet against New Zealand winning their next five matches after the men in black survived a torrid Soccer City examination to stun struggling South Africa.
Needing one point to regain the Tri-Nations title, New Zealand collected four to amass 23 from five outings with Australia (four) and South Africa (one) clashing over the next two weekends to settle second place.
"I am so proud of my team," boasted All Blacks coach Graham Henry, considered lucky to dodge the axe after a shock quarterfinal exit against France at the 2007 World Cup.
"They showed great character to stick together and these are the kind of players you would like to go to war with. It's very special - to come from behind at altitude against the world champions made it even more memorable."
Adding to New Zealand joy was a world record for flyhalf Dan Carter, whose third penalty goal 29 minutes into the opening half raised his points tally to 1113, two more than Jonny Wilkinson of England. However, this tally does not include Wilkinson's points scored for the British and Irish Lions.
Controversial South Africa coach Peter de Villiers must sense that a further two losses - when they tackle the Wallabies in Pretoria and Bloemfontein in the next fortnight - will put his future on the line.
"I have just come from a funeral back there in the dressing room. That is how hard the guys are taking it," he admitted at the post-match Soccer City news conference.
"But we really made a hell of a step up from our Australasia tour. The one thing we are all aware of now is that just as winning becomes a habit, so does losing."
Failure was a particularly bitter pill for captain and hooker John Smit to swallow as he received a pre-match ovation after becoming only the second Springbok to be capped 100 times.
Carter opened the scoring with the first of his four penalties before the Boks raised their game to lead by two points at half-time and when McCaw dived over on 78 minutes to bring the teams level at 22-22, a draw seemed probable.
But a turnover and a missed tackle by Smit set centre Ma'a Nonu free and he passed wide to Dagg, who crossed the tryline 20 seconds from fulltime and Carter converted on a day when he fluffed four of nine goal kicks.
The All Blacks' 14-Test winning streak:
2009
19/09: Wellington - bt Australia 33-6
31/10: Tokyo - bt Australia 32-19
07/11: Cardiff - bt Wales 19-12
14/11: Milan - bt Italy 20-6
21/11:
London - bt England 19-6
28/11: Marseille - bt France 39-12
2010
12/06: New Plymouth - bt Ireland 66-28
19/06: Dunedin - bt Wales 42-9
26/06: Hamilton - bt Wales 29-10
17/07: Wellington - bt South Africa 31-17
10/07: Auckland - bt South Africa 32-12
31/07: Melbourne - bt Australia 49-28
07/08: Christchurch - bt Australia 20-10
21/08: Johannesburg - bt South Africa 29-22
Remaining 2010 fixtures:
04/09: Sydney - v Australia
30/10: Hong Kong - v Australia
07/11: London - v England
14/11: Edinburgh - v Scotland
21/11: Dublin - v Ireland
28/11: Cardiff - v Wales
AFP
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