17 Aug 2008

All Blacks beat South Africa 19-0

2:38 pm on 17 August 2008

The All Blacks beat South Africa 19-0 in a Tri-Nations rugby match at Cape Town on Saturday.

New Zealand led 5-0 at half time after a try by centre Conrad Smith.

Daniel Carter missed five of seven attempted kicks, but scored a try as did replacement hooker Keven Mealamu.

It was the first time the Springboks had been kept scoreless on home soil against the All Blacks, following a 0-0 draw in Wellington in 1921 and 0-13 and 0-28 defeats in Dunedin in 1965 and 1999.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry says two of New Zealand's Beijing Olympic gold medallists inspired the team to victory.

Earlier in the day, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell won the women's double sculls title for the second time.

Henry began his post-match news conference by congratulating the pair.

"It was quite motivational to see the twins winning," he said. "The boys all watched it this morning and it gave them a lift."

New Zealand now lead the series with 14 points from five games. South Africa are bottom of the table on five points, four behind Australia.