18 Jul 2010

All Blacks beat South Africa again

5:51 am on 18 July 2010

The All Blacks produced another high-tempo, attack-minded performance to secure their second successive bonus-point win in the Tri-Nations with a 31-17 victory over South Africa in Wellington.

Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger and Israel Dagg all scored tries for the All Blacks, while first-five Daniel Carter, who had a poor goalkicking performance in missing five attempts at goal, slotted two penalties and a conversion.

Piri Weepu also added a penalty for the home side, who had beaten the Springboks 32-12 in Auckland last week with a similar high-octane game plan.

Danie Rossouw and Schalk Burger scored tries, while Morne Steyn added a penalty and two conversions for the World Cup holders, who looked promising when they kept the ball in hand but had another poor tactical kicking game in the swirling wind.

The All Blacks again dominated the bigger South Africans and their aggressive defensive line turned back waves of Springboks attacks.

The Springboks, who had Bakkies Botha sinbinned early last week, again fell foul of the referee with Rossouw shown a yellow card by Alain Rolland in the fourth minute for kicking All Blacks' captain Richie McCaw.

The Springboks play the Wallabies in Brisbane next week while the All Blacks have a week off.