New Zealand clinched their seventh Tri-Nations in the last 9 years by beating a very out of form South Africa side 29-22 last Saturday. The tri nations series hasn't finished yet, with New Zealand still to play 1 game, whilst Australia have 3 games and South Africa with 2 games yet to play. However, Australia and South Africa will now have to fight it out for 2nd place as New Zealand showed their superiority in the world of Rugby Union by winning all 5 matches.
South Africa did put up a resolute defensive performance, and were leading 22-17 until the last few moments, when New Zealand clinched an enthralling win by converting 2 late tries. The first of the 2 tries in the 78th minute sparked a lot of controversy, with South African coaches saying that there was a forward pass in the build up to Richie McCaw's try. But it was given, and the try levelled the scores at 22-22, although Dan Carter missed the subsequent conversion from the far touchline which would have given New Zealand a two-point lead.
With a draw seemingly on the cards, the New Zealand substitute Isreal Dagg defied all odds and ensured New Zealand extended their winning run to 14 successive matches when he outsprinted full-back Gio Aplon after centre Nonu carved through the shambolic Springbok defence. And Dan Carter, who missed five of his nine attempts at goal at the stadium formerly known as Soccer City, added the conversion in front of the posts before the final whistle.
It was a cruel blow for the South African captain John Smit, whose 100th test appearance saw his side only lose the lead once in the whole game, and that was in the defining moments of this tense affair. One of the largest crowds ever for a Rugby International were also hit hard by the defeat, having to come to reality that the current world champions were no real match for the All Blacks and slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat, and with only one point, are seemingly resigned to finishing last in the Tri Nations 2010.
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