26 Jul 2009

Slow start costs ABs

8:32 am on 26 July 2009

Another slow start cost the All Blacks as they lost their Tri-Nations Test to the Springboks, 28-19 in Bloemfontein.

Camped in their own half for much of the first 40 minutes, the All Blacks trailed 14-3 at half-time before coming back strongly with a trademark run to centre Conrad Smith, who evaded four tackles to score an outstanding try.

But a turnover when they were hot on attack let centre Jacques Fourie in for the decisive second try for the Springboks.

Smith says the All Blacks left themselves too much work to do, even though they came back to within four points and thought they could still win it, even after the Fourie try.