New Zealand leads at interval

New Zealand 13 South Africa 6

Leon MacDonald converted his own first-half try and landed two penalties to give New Zealand the half-time lead over South Africa in the first World Cup quarter-final.

But the seven-point advantage, with Derick Hougaard landing two penalties for South Africa, was hardly just reward for the way New Zealand dominated for all but the last five minutes of the half.

Hougaard attempted an ambitious drop-goal from near the half-way line that sailed wide left – and was met with boos from the predominantly All Blacks crowd.

Those jeers grew louder when Spencer made two attempts of his own, the first of which hit the post, the second dropped wide.

It was an interesting tactic, particularly as moments earlier Rokocoko had been unleashed on one of his silky runs down the left wing.

It was also a tactic that goes against Spencer’s natural instincts, which are to use New Zealand’s scintillating backs to probe the opposition defence in all areas of the field.

The All Blacks continued to do that, with Spencer himself almost breaking clear down the left with a cheeky chip to himself, but after half an hour of almost utter dominance, New Zealand still only held a 10-3 lead.

That was extended by three when MacDonald landed a second penalty, and only with 35 minutes on the clock did the Springboks manage to string together any phases in attack.

The closest they came was a sniping break down the blindside from number eight Juan Smith after the Springboks finally began to use their size advantage up front.

He fed Jaco van der Westhuyzen but the full-back was bundled into touch.

South Africa’s only reward was a penalty for Hougaard with the last kick of a half in which New Zealand had had 65% of the possession and 63% of the territory.