The Tri-Nations match saw the All Blacks looking powerful even with 12 changes to the starting line-up as they were only deprived of a try inside the first minute by a superb tackle from Bryan Habana on Cowan. This was followed shortly after by a Jaque Fourie intercept that salvaged another dangerous situation for the under-pressure Springboks before Steyn slotted his first penalty with eight minutes gone. The visitors continued to enjoy a greater share of territory and possession, but struggled to convert their superiority into points. So it was that South Africa took their points as the Blacks infringed around the breakdown allowing Morne Steyn to kick four penalties and a drop-goal, whilst all the Blacks mustered was a well worked try to Richard Kahui. This took us into half time at 15-5.
The second period and South Africa continued to resist all that New Zealand could throw at them apart from when New Zealand seemed to have closed to within five points as Cowan crossed seven minutes into the second half. But the television match official correctly noted that the scoring pass from Israel Dagg was forward and so all either team had to show was a single penalty goal to Steyn. The changes came and the game as usual lost some shape so we meandered to the final score of:
South Africa 18-5 New Zealand
Scorers
South Africa
Pens: Steyn 5
Drops: Steyn
New Zealand
Try: Kahui
Teams
South Africa: Patrick Lambie; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: John Smit, Tendai Mtawarira, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Ashley Johnson, Francois Hougaard. Replacement not used: Butch James
New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear; Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan; Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock; John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (capt), Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Jarrad Hoeata, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu. Replacement not used: Cory Jane
Referee: George Clancy (IRL)