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The reigning World Cup champions, New Zealand await the winner of Argentina vs Australia. Having held on to defeat South Africa 20-18 this afternoon in London the All Blacks are into a second consecutive Rugby World Cup final for the first time in history.
Standing in the way of New Zealand making history is an improved Wallabies team or a Pumas team that seemingly everyone is now talking about.
The All Blacks reached the final by seeing-off South Africa in an evenly fought contest in which rain played a notable part. Jerome Kaino’s first half try came early but would be the only score of the opening half.
It was a half in which New Zealand was the better side and the statistics suggested just as much with the All Blacks having far more ball. South Africa, though, held a 12-7 half time lead thanks to Handré Pollard’s goalkicking accuracy.
Despite missing Kaino who was serving a 10 minute yellow card offence it was the All Blacks who scored first after the interval. Dan Carter showed how much he wants to play in a World Cup final by taking a drop goal to cut the deficit to two points.
New Zealand then went ahead with replacement back Beauden Barrett scoring the second and final try of the game. Try try not only saw the lead change hands but saw South Africa reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. The offendant was Bryan Habana who received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the lead-up to Barrett’s try.
South Africa had opportunities to fight back and did land two second half penalties. When replacement fly half Pat Lambie landed a penalty it was Kieran Read’s fourth offence yet there was no yellow card. Ultimately a Carter penalty saw New Zealand remain in the lead and hold on until the end.
Scorers
New Zealand
Tries: Kaino, Barrett
Conversions: Carter (2)
Penalty: Carter
Drop Goal: Carter
South Africa
Penalties: Pollard (5), Lambie
New Zealand
15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Sonny Bill Williams
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (Captain), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
