Carter steers All Blacks to win

Dan Carter kicked 25 points as New Zealand inflicted a second successive heavy Tri-Nations defeat on South Africa.

New Zealand 35 South Africa 17

South Africa got off to the best possible start today in their Tri-Nations encounter with New Zealand in Wellington before succumbing to another fabulous all-round performance from Dan Carter.

Carter started as the villain in front of the home crowd when Springbok scrum-half Fourie Du Preez blocked down the out-half’s attempted clearance straight from the kick-off and gathered himself to touch down with only seconds on the clock.

Du Preez was called up, along with out-half Butch James, after the recond 49-0 drubbing in Brisbane last week and coach Jake White also brought in Solly Tybilika at seven, Jacques Cronje at six and second row Albert van der Berg.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry made eight changes in accordance with his squad rotation policy.

White’s changes seem to have brought about a big improvement in the Springboks. The first half was fiercely competitive with the visitors competing well and winning ball at the breakdown.

However, their discipline let them down and Carter claimed the lead for the ‘Blacks with four penalties.

Percy Mongomery missed the chance to reclaim the advantage at 9-7 when his penalty attempt went left and wide.

And then the home side cemented their lead just before the break with a converted try by Piri Weepu for a 19-7 half-time scoreline.

The scrum-half, who had treatment on a shoulder injury earlier, had to stretch to touch down after rescuing the situation when a promising Muliaina break up the left wing looked to come to nothing when the supporting Scott Hamilton’s pass went to ground.

Carter started the second period with another three-pointer after John Smit handled the ball on the ground, but Hamilton was denied a try for an earlier forward pass from Muliaina to Leon McDonald.

South Africa did score a beautiful try when Breyton Paulse collected Du Preez’s pin-point cross-kick at high speed to round full-back McDonald. Montgomerie converted and added a further three points in the brief Springbok come-back, although he will rue an attempt that came back off the woodwork.

However, the home side dominated again as the game drew to a close and finished with yet another Carter penalty (he kicked seven penalties and two conversions without a single miss) and a second try by Richie McCaw after Carter returned a failed touchfinder with a chip-and-collect before feeding his captain.

The All Blacks have now strung together 20 wins in a row on NBew Zealand soil and though they missed out on a bonus point today look to be in prime position to retain the Tri-Nations title.