All Blacks claim No 1 ranking

2008-07-06 15:09

Wellington, New Zealand - New Zealand regained their No 1 world ranking when they beat World Cup champion South Africa 19-8 in the opening match of the Tri-Nations rugby series on Saturday.

The All Blacks out muscled the world champions in a physical match, played in wet and bitterly cold conditions, in which both teams scored one try. Daniel Carter's goal kicking - a conversion and four penalties from six attempts - helped split the teams, as did the crucial advantages the All Blacks gained at breakdowns and set pieces.

New Zealand was without captain Richie McCaw but, in his absence, stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo, young loose-forwards Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino and locks Ali Williams and Brad Thorn played inspirational parts.

Kaino scored New Zealand's only try in the fifth minute of the second half, virtually sealing the match after the All Blacks had taken a brittle 9-8 lead to half-time.

Williams played courageously on an injured ankle, dominating lineouts and adding skill and a physical presence around the field. Thorn also played a vital, combative role, providing the final pass that led to Kaino's try but was later suspended for one match for a dangerous tackle on Springboks captain John Smit.

His suspension means he will miss the rematch between the teams at Carisbrook, Dunedin on Saturday.

The match was regarded as the first real test of the season for the All Blacks who beat uncompetitive Ireland and England teams in three June Tests. As such, it was also the first real test for New Zealand since last year's World Cup.

Advantage at lineouts

The differences between the teams were small but significant. The All Blacks scrum outplayed the Springboks and Williams gave New Zealand an advantage at lineouts, despite the presence of Springbok veterans Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield.

Even without McCaw, New Zealand won the race to and gained a better supply of possession from breakdowns. Carter, who was targeted by late and high tackles in an integral part of the South African game plan, still played a vital role with his accurate tactical kicking.

The Springboks only threatened the All Blacks, and then rarely, from broken play and scored their single try from a blindside breakout by Jean de Villiers and the tryscorer Bryan Habana.

The All Blacks' win extended to 30 matches their world record winning streak at home and continued a 10-year winning run against the Springboks in New Zealand. The Boks hoped to win the match to prove their World Cup win and rise to the No 1 world ranking was deserved but, instead, they gave up that ranking to a superior All Blacks team.

Smit, who left the field with a groin injury, hoped his team could improve in time for next week's second Tri-Nations Test.

"We came here very purposeful and with the belief that we could change our fortunes here. We do have another crack at them," Smit said.

"There's a lot more left to give and I think that's where we're most disappointed, that we didn't bring it all today. It's probably as poor as we could play in the Tri-Nations and we can certainly only get better from that."

- AP