Rugby World Cup: All Blacks edge Springboks to make final

Steph Mallinson | October 24, 2015

South Africa 18-20 New Zealand

• Kaino goes from All Blacks hero with opening try to villain with sin-binning
• Four Pollard penalties give Springboks 12-7 half-time lead
• Habana also spends 10 minutes off the field
• New Zealand replacement Bennett crosses and Carter kicks seal victory

All Blacks come through sternest test

Rugby World Cup holders New Zealand did just enough against fellow Southern Hemisphere heavyweights South Africa to book their place in a fourth tournament final, edging the Springboks 20-18 at Twickenham.

Tries from Jerome Kaino (later sin-binned) and Beauden Barrett, both converted by Dan Carter, who also kicked a drop goal and decisive penalty, proved just enough to take the All Blacks, now odd-on 3/10 favourites with Coral to retain the Webb Ellis Cup, through.

South Africa failed to cross, with wing hero Bryan Habana also in the bin early in the second-half for an infringement, but six penalties – five from Handre Pollard and replacement Patrick Lambie kicking the other – made things interesting.

New Zealand struggle with discipline

Although the Springboks put the first points on the board, profiting from uncharacteristic All Blacks errors during the first-half, there was a swift response on the counter. Kaino tucked the opening try in the corner and Carter converted to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 7-3 advantage.