All Blacks escape into World Cup final
Dan Carter anchored New Zealand to a 20-18 victory over South Africa
to reach the Rugby World Cup final at the end of a bruising clash at
Twickenham on Saturday.
|
New Zealands centre Sonny Bill Williams (L) is tackled by
South Africas flanker Francois Louw during their semi-final
match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup afp |
With the All Blacks down 12-7 at half-time, and Jerome Kaino in the
sin-bin,Carter snapped a neat field goal to start an All Blacks revival.
The defending champions followed with a try by Beauden Barrett to
continue their domination of South Africa.
With one key rival out of the way, New Zealand now play the winner of
Sunday's clash between Australia and Argentina in the final.
In the pressured Twickenham atmosphere, the match went down to the
wire with never more than five points in it.
"I guess we did it the hard way today, but that was always going to
bet he case against the Springboks," New Zealand captain Richie
McCawsaid.
"We wanted to make our country proud and we didn't,"commented Heyneke
Meyer after the defeat.
The battle was a far different game to the All Blacks' 62-13
thrashing of France in the quarter-finals.
The All Blacks were punished early for a lack of discipline in the
first half but tidied up their game as replacements were made in the
second half.
They scored an early try by Jerome Kaino while Barrett scored in the
second half with Carter adding two conversions, a penalty along with his
drop goal.
South Africa were forced to rely on the boot of Handre Pollards who
landed five penalties before he was replaced with 15 minutes to go by
Pat Lambie who also kicked a penalty.-(AFP) |
