The All Blacks coach Graham Henry praised his team's courage and character in battling back from the brink to snatch a dramatic victory over the old enemy at Jade Stadium on Saturday night. But, really, he missed out the most crucial ingredient in a win that preserves his side's unbeaten record this season.
Outrageous fortune, more than anything, denied the Springboks the monumental upset they richly deserved and gave the New Zealanders their sixth Test win in a row. It was in the final minute when the All Blacks at last managed to hang on to possession for long enough - going through 15 phases - to wear down this magnificent South African defence. Even then it was all but time up when the erratic genius Carlos Spencer - who had had a brute of a night hitherto - seized the moment and threw the cut-out pass to let in Doug "Houdini" Howlett for the try to steal the prize.
For all but the final few moments of this taut encounter the Springboks had led. They had not won here since 1998 and they have now lost 14 of 17 Tri-Nations matches against the team whose scalp they value most.
"They showed a huge amount of courage," said Henry of his players. "It was a game we could have lost but the guys showed a lot of character in hanging in there and we finished up winning which was quite marvellous."
Henry was very much looking at the glass as half-full after a second home win to start this Tri-Nations - there were enough deficiencies in the All Blacks attacking game to furrow his brow. For the second straight week their forwards dominated possession for scant reward. They won the ruck and maul count by 123-23, yet against this tide of possession the Springboks scored three tries to one, all of their points coming in a first 40 minutes where they struck with unerring intent.
Much as they did against the Australians a week earlier, the All Blacks forwards, led by the lock Chris Jack in the form of his life, could not have produced more impressive statistics if they had filled the sheet in themselves. One count had them with 73% of possession and 68% of territory. It is criminal that they managed just one try from that. Much of the credit, though, must go to South Africa's defence which got up fast in an unwavering line, giving the New Zealand backs no time or space to work their magic.
The South Africans struck first with just 23 seconds gone. That score went to the wing Jean de Villiers after New Zealand failed to get a half-back to the very first breakdown.
Before the half was out the Springboks had gorged on errors, the No8 Jacques Cronje and half-back Fourie du Preez finishing, with the full-back Percy Montgomery adding the extras, for a 21-12 advantage. Penalties by Dan Carter and Spencer then edged the Kiwis closer before the grand finale.
"It hurts," said the Springboks captain John Smit. "We were 10 seconds away from winning that game. We pretty much lost this Test match. It doesn't feel like we were beaten."
Their coach Jake White was devastated, yet proud his team had exhibited such steel. "We've got to learn from these things," he said. "I walked into the changing room and we'd just lost in the last move of the game. Whether its under-13s in a schoolboy game, it still feels exactly the same - it hurts."
Lady luck deserted the South Africans but it may not next time if they continue to play with such verve and commitment. The Wallabies, who await in Perth, have been warned.
New Zealand: Muliaina (Auckland); Howlett (Auckland), Umaga (Wellington, capt), Carter (Canterbury; Tuitupou , Auckland, 66), Rokocoko (Auckland); Spencer (Auckland), Marshall (Canterbury; Kelleher , Waikato, 66); Meeuws (Auckland), Mealamu (Auckland), Somerville (Canterbury), Jack (Canterbury), Maling (Otago; Williams , Auckland, 55), Collins (Wellington), Holah (Waikato), Rush (Auckland).
Try: Howlett. Pens: Carter 5, Spencer.
South Africa: Montgomery (Newport); Paulse (Western Cape), Joubert (Western Province; Russell , Natal, 73), De Villiers (W Province), Barry (W Province); Van der Westhuyzen (Leicester), Du Preez (Blue Bulls); Du Randt (Free State), Smit (Natal), Andrews (W Province; Rautenbach , Gauteng, 62), Botha (Blue Bulls; Davids , W Province, 73), Van den Berg (Natal); Burger (W Province), Venter (Natal; Van Niekerk , W Province, 68), Cronje (Blue Bulls).
Tries: De Villiers, Cronje, Du Preez. Cons: Montgomery 3.
Referee: A Cole (Australia).
