New Zealand 19; South Africa 0
Well, it's been some old night, and we can go to bed secure in the knowledge that the All Blacks have put away the Springboks at Newlands, and for the first time ever, held the Springboks scoreless in South Africa. I'll have to watch a replay as I've been flicking backwards and forwards between Valerie Vili's great effort and the rugby. Details will follow after a kip!
UPDATE: I've now seen most of the game on replay, and it was an odd sort of a match. The Springboks really played into the All Blacks' hands by playing an unstructured, high-risk game. The All Black defence was solid, and keeping Die Bokke scoreless was a bonus. Brad Thorn had another storming game, and John Afoa added a lot of impetus when he came on. Richard Kahui looked solid on the wing, and Isaia Toeava looked a different player to the hesitant, butterfingered version of the last couple of years. The AB loose forwards were superb, and the benefits of playing So'oialo and Kaino in position are obvious.
So the All Blacks now lead the Tri-Nations by 5 points, and short of Australia winning twice in South Africa will win if they beat Australia in Brisbane on 13 September. A win in that match will also lock up the Bledisloe Cup in the NZRU trophy cabinet, and set the team up well for the end-of-season tour.
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And don't forget the Warriors! Burying the Sharks was brilliant. Winning 6 out of the last 7 games they are looking like they have what it takes.
The Warriors are indeed going well JP - I just hope that those two narrow losses to the Bunnies don't come back to haunt them at the end of the season. But having knocked over the Storm, Broncos and Sharks in their last three games at Mt Smart has been a great achievement. I don't think it's any coincidence that they started winning after Steve Price came back from injury.
Greetings from Cairns.
What a game by McCaw well supported by his tight 5.
Sad to see the demise of Fourie du Preez the best halfback in world rugby for the last 2 or 3 years who on Saturday almost single handedly handed the game to the ABs.
When Weepu and Toeava came on was that the slowest backline - Carter excepted and perhaps Kahui - ever fielded by an All Black team?
Still a very good result even though the score flattered the AB'S.
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