‘Boks Chalk Up Second Win

South African coach Jake White

It’s two down, two to go for defending champions South Africa in the 2005 Tri-Nations. On Saturday, the Springboks, on foot of a superb defensive display, edged the All Blacks 22-16 at Newlands.

2005 TRI-NATIONS: Saturday, August 6
South Africa 22 New Zealand 16, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Scorers: South Africa: Try: de Villiers; Con: Montgomery; Pens: Montgomery 4; Drop: Pretorius

New Zealand: Try: Gear; Con: Carter; Pens: Carter 3

Jake White’s side handed New Zealand their first defeat at Newlands since 1976 as Percy Montgomery kicked a match-winning fourteen points to add to centre Jean de Villiers’ stunning early try.

Western Province flyer de Villiers scored a brilliant intercept try, taking full advantage of a loose pass from New Zealand scrum-half Byron Kelleher to start and finish a 70-metre attack to the visitors’ line.

Montgomery converted that tenth minute score, to add to his earlier penalty and fly-half Andre Pretorius’ drop goal, to tally up a 13-0 buffer for White’s charged-up outfit.

The All Blacks dug their heels in, although Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha were having a notable affect on the famed New Zealand line-out. Daniel Carter, the hero of their Lions Series’ win, almost single-handedly clawed them back to level-pegging by the 27th-minute. The Crusaders fly-half landed a penalty, laid the initial platform for winger Rico Gear’s try, which was notable for two cut-out passes from Aaron Mauger and Jerry Collins, and then booted a second penalty.

Just as they had done in their opening defeat of Australia last weekend, the ‘Boks continued to create chances, founded on some aggresive defence. Montgomery edged over his third penalty for a 16-13 interval lead.

Graham Henry’s All Blacks, whose last defeat came a year ago against White’s lot in Johannesburg, almost got the pitch-perfect start to the second half when Gear was within a dropped pass of a second try.

The home side rode their luck, amidst a north-westerly gale, and full-back Montgomery gleefully kicked them into a 22-13 lead after recalled Kiwi flanker Richie McCaw was pinged twice for ruck offences.

Carter managed another penalty in the final ten minutes, but, mainly due to their sheer industry and disciplined, defensive will, most notably from the usually fiery Schalk Burger, the Springboks held on to record coach White’s tenth home win since he took over in February last year.

All Blacks boss Henry, who is definitely without Kelleher (concussion) for Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia and has doubts over skipper Tana Umaga (ankle), admitted afterwards: “I thought we were a bit rusty. We didn’t think we would be, but that just shows the pressure we were under from the opposition.

“This tournament could go down to the wire with bonus points, so we were quite happy to come away with one today.”

South Africa: Percy Montgomery; Breyton Paulse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Andri Pretorius, Enrico Januarie; Os du Randt, John Smit (Capt), CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk.

Replacements: Hanyani Shimange, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronji, Fourie du Preez, Wayne Julies, Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald; Rico Gear, Tana Umaga (Capt), Aaron Mauger, Mils Muliaina; Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo.

Replacements: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, James Ryan, Marty Holah, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko.

Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)