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New Zealand outscored South Africa by three tries to two earlier this afternoon to close in on retaining the Rugby Championship title. Tries to Ben Smith, Dane Coles and captain Richie McCaw saw the All Blacks completing a come-from-behind victory after South Africa had led until well into the final ten minutes.
Backs Willie LeRoux and Jesse Kriel crossed for tries for the home side while fly half Handré Pollard kicked four goals. All Black debutat Lima Sopoaga kicked a total of five goals which aided the visitors who won 27-20.
South Africa will host Argentina in two weeks time in the final round of the Rugby Championship while New Zealand will play Australia away in Sydney.
Scorers
South Africa
Tries: Le Roux, Kriel
Conversions: Pollard 2
Penalties: Pollard 2
New Zealand
Tries: Ben Smith, Coles, McCaw
Conversions: Sopoaga 3
Penalties: Sopoaga 2
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
New Zealand
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Liam Messsam, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock
16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
