Two of the best teams in the world, battling it out. New Zealand v South Africa was always going to be a thundering, thrilling, spine tingling match. An occasion that had the whole rugby world captivated, it was a semi-final that delivered on every level.
Handre Pollard kicked off the game and the Springboks gained ground through Willie Le Roux’s pace sliding him through the All Blacks defence before being greeted by a bone crushing New Zealand tackle. A penalty awarded in South Africa’s favour, Pollard started the scoreboard into motion, 3-0. Moments later though, a scintillating run down the wing by Kaino took New Zealand to their first try, and a second attempt conversion succeeded for the score to read 3-7 (first attempt disregarded by referee Garces as Springboks ran too early in the challenge). Another three points were won by Heyneke Meyer’s men at the lineout and Pollard slotted another penalty kick through the posts. 6-7 at the ten minute mark and it was evident that this match was going to be as close as speculated throughout the week.
A high tackle by Kieran Read on Le Roux gave the Springboks an opportunity to unleash their rolling maul on the Kiwi’s, but a driving force came to a standstill as the All Blacks defence quietened their efforts. Pietersen made an outstanding run in an attempt for the line as the Springboks came back up-field in attack moments later, and despite a grubber kick going long, Pollard earned another three points when play went back for the penalty. South Africa, with ball in hand, began to look more and more dangerous as the phases passed. Ma’a Nonu shook off an easy four players in his sprint for the line but was finally taken to ground and, yet again, the Boks overturned and stole possession.
Dan Carter’s penalty kick in the final quarter of the first half bounced back off the posts for South Africa to gather and pollard to kick into touch, however a solid All Blacks lineout reinforced their strength at the set piece. Then unfolded a series of errors between the two teams, resulting in advantage for the Springboks when Joe Moody was warned for foul play by dragging an opposing player out of the ruck by his neck. The reigning Champions looked to be straining under the pressure with basic ball-handling errors and with a minute to go until the half time whistle, Kaino recieved a yellow card for being deliberately offside. With Steve Hansen’s squad down to 14, both teams headed off into the changing rooms as the Springboks remained five points in front.
The two sides came back out to a scathing downpour of rain onto the hallowed Twickenham turf; perhaps emulating Hansen’s half time team talk. South Africa’s defence was solid when the All Blacks stacked pressure in a scrum on the ten metre line, but the ball landed in the hands of Carter for him to strike a drop goal for a valuable three points. As New Zealand clawed points back, they also were given back Kaino from the sin bin, completing their full XV. They sustained pace and flair throughout their gain-line, Nonu typically with enough skill to outplay the best of defenders. He threw out wide to newly instated Beauden Barrett who flew over the whitewash for the second try of the evening. As Carter converted, South Africa’s Habana was shown a yellow for a deliberate knock on, highlighted by the TMO. The tables had turned but 12-17 soon turned into 15-17 as Pollard kept his off-tee kicking attempts at 100% when Garces awarded the Springboks a penalty at the scrum. This evolved seconds later into 15-20 as Carter sent another penalty between the posts. As discipline misdemeanours came from either side, it was the men in green and gold who impressed most with their magnificent rolling maul again. They returned to a full XV, man on the moment Handre Pollard limped off the pitch in pain to a rapturous applause from fans in the 80,000 strong crowd.
The All Blacks revived their forward pack with replacements, seeing Kaino and Coles go off, but when number eight Read went into a maul from the side, he gave possession to the Boks who performed a superb kick and chase to panic captain McCaw and his team. A close call for New Zealand, and dangerously reckless as they led by a mere two points. With 90 seconds left on the clock, Carter’s split second decision to not go for another drop goal ended in South Africa earning advantage, and with a scrum ten metres from their try line, the Boks tore out the ball to keep possession as the time ran into the red. The ball went to ground and the final whistle blew. An incredible game with barely anything in it, New Zealand secured a place in their fourth World Cup final to defend their title. For what could have easily passed off as a final, Richie McCaw becomes the most successful World Cup captain in history. Man of the Match was awarded to Ben Smith, and we wait until tomorrow to find out who will face the mighty All Blacks in next Saturday’s spectacular.
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