Luke Fitzgerald, Gordon D'Arcy and Jamie Heaslip in the Ireland commemorative kit to be worn against South Africa on November 6. Photo: Brendan Moran / Sportsfile

Last updated 05:01 22/08/2010

This morning's come back from the dead 29-22 win over South Africa in Soweto highlighted just how good this All Blacks team is and that even when star playmaker Dan Carter is below par they can still come through with the goods.

With three minutes to go the All Blacks were down 22-17 and it looked as if the bonus point to win the Tri-Nations would be the only thing they'd be able to take from the game.

But Richie McCaw scored in the corner after spending three minutes lurking out on one flank, then straight from the restart, following Carter's missed conversion, Nonu made a break and set up Israel Dagg for the match winner.

The 94,033 spectators in the crowd that created a deafening atmosphere for 79 minutes were stunned into silence. So too was their captain John Smit, who looked shattered that the Springboks had lost again, their third defeat of the year to the All Blacks.

This loss will hurt South African rugby and Boks coach Peter de Villiers. The Springboks had put everything into this game and played every emotional card they could during the week. The stakes could hardly have been higher for them and their may be some casualties from this loss.

Richie McCaw said at the captain's run on Friday that the key to this game was scoring early to silence the crowd, but they weren't able to do it.

South Africa started strongly and got the 16th man they were looking for.

The All Blacks had a sluggish start to their set pieces, they were almost pushed off the ball with their first scrum and a lineout just after almost went wrong when the Springboks read a throw to the front.

But the All Blacks kept their cool under the early pressure and took the lead through a Carter penalty.

The Springboks' ferocity at the tackle was something the visitors found hard to handle, especially when Schalk Burger came crashing in, using his strength to force turnovers.

And it was also on attack where Burger made a big impact, smashing over Ma'a Nonu and Keven Mealamu for the opening try of the game.

Down 13-9 it was Jimmy Cowan's defensive blunder that left a great big gap in the defence for Francois Hougaard to run through, but it was a tough call to penalise Joe Rokocoko for running into the Springboks halfback after he put up a kick.

The All Blacks' first try came from a great break by Brad Thorn down the left flank, the ball was recycled quickly and spread wide, Nonu straightened the line of attack and when they went wide again there was plenty of space for Tony Woodcock to stroll in.

The sun had set by the start of the second half and two minutes into it Cowan, whose selection in the run-on team may have been down to loyalty from the coaches as much as anything else, paid the price for an inconsistent half and was substituted two minutes into the second period.

His replacement, Piri Weepu, was much more effective, utilising his skills at taking the ball to the line.

Steyn's penalties took the score to 22-14 with 13 minutes to go, but another Carter penalty brought the All Blacks back to within a try.

But after that kick Carter had a meltdown, he knocked the ball on when trying to catch a kick that was going straight down his throat, then missed a simple penalty with six minutes to go.

But cometh the hour, cometh McCaw, who did enough to make the scores level and Dagg who did the job for the win.

New Zealand now have 23 points and have won the Tri-Nations for the 10th time in 15 years with a game to spare.

Springbok captain John Smit could not conceal his disappointment after his 100th Test match ended in a 29-22 defeat to New Zealand in Soweto.

Smit's side led until the dying minutes of the match, when Richie McCaw and Israel Dagg pounced for tries to seal the All Blacks' reclamation of the Tri-Nations title.

"I thought we controlled the first half well and played accurately and on our terms. In the second half we conceded a few penalties and missed touch kicks, which cost us," Smit said. "At 22-all we wanted to get into a good field position so that Morné Steyn can have a go at a drop-goal, but we turned over possession, I missed a crucial tackle and it was game over.

"I can't think of anything worse than losing your 100th Test by missing a tackle at the death. I'll be disappointed for a very long time."

Springbok coach Peter De Villiers made a number of changes to his side and was quick to praise the younger members of his team despite the result.

"The youngsters stepped up today and we can draw a lot of confidence from how they played," he said. "If we dictate territory and possession, we can beat any team. We lost some structure in the second half and were playing less direct and more defensive.

"Those two kicks that went long were probably the turning points, as it brought us back into our half and we had to defend, where we could've been on the attack. It's very painful, but we can take some heart from how we performed today. You need luck too, and today it went their way, as it did in the rest of the Tri-Nations. Winning becomes a habit, but so can losing and we're aware of that."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry was predicatably thrilled with his side's comeback and toasted a wonderful oaccasion.

"They don't get any bigger than that - a huge Test match, played in front of that crowd in that stadium," he said. "I'm sure it will be pretty significant for the people who were there today.

"I just felt so proud of what they've achieved. The character, backed by their guts and togetherness was superb. So I think it was a very special win by the All Blacks today, an outstanding result and something we will never forget as far as we're concerned."

It says a lot about the current status quo in the All Blacks camp when considering that for two consecutive tests, first five-eighth Dan Carter has not produced a playmaking master class, yet the black clad players all around him were anything but all at sea.

In the past many have felt that the All Blacks ability as a winning rugby team centered around the presence and actions of the two Crusaders kingpins, but the growing maturity and leadership of the men around them is taking responsibility and pressure off the all important 7 and 10 bloc.

There is still no real test class open side flanker waiting in the wings, and it is no joke that McCaw’s abilities and leadership make him indispensable to this All Black team.

This is no different to any team in world rugby, where any test captain or star player is central to a side’s prowess. Would not the Springboks have been a far more intimidating proposition had Bull’s maestro Fourie du Preez been present in the side?

But while the presence of “Captain Fantastic” makes the All Blacks a far more potent force, one only needs to look at the growing influence of his back row partners (Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino) to know that if the unthinkable occurred and McCaw was unavailable, his replacement would be aptly supported.

Indeed much of McCaw’s brilliance seen in recent test matches has been not so much for the mercurial skills of a man who is currently untouched as the world’s best fetcher – although it would have been fascinating to see him again go head to head with Heinrich Brussow – but for the balance and support of his blindside and eightman.

The benefit of having two provincial partners in the loose in working wonders, and Kaino is providing the muscle in what is the most important triumvirate on the rugby field.

McCaw also has the support of veterans up front, with Brad Thorn, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock being backed by the rise of the Franks brothers and Tom Donnelly.

And to think that Andrew Hore hasn’t even strapped on a test rugby boot in 2010.

Carter was judged on what was overall an average kicking performance from the All Blacks, with five kicks worth 12 points missed.

But the reliance perceived to be heaped on the All Blacks number ten’s shoulders is put into perspective when considering that seven players ran with the ball more times than Carter.

The All Blacks assaults were rarely centered on conventional offence marshaled by the playmaker, which meant that the axis of attack came from all around the field.

Carter has the benefit of playing with two class but varied scrumhalves, and while question marks could remain on the fact that Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu are far from classical in their passing service, they both bring other aspects to the table that suit the All Blacks style of play.

The midfield of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith – again showing the benefit of a provincial relationship – is untouchable and on current form is the world’s best centre partnership.

And out wide Mils Muliaina continues to shine, moving steadily forward as the most capped All Blacks back, while Graham Henry has a plethora of wing options and competition in the outside three quarters.

This All Blacks team is no tandem act, and while the importance of the red and black duo is crucial, the options around them are becoming just as crucial to what is seemingly a class All Blacks side.

History is set to repeat after a drenched Daniel Carter cruised through All Blacks training today and was cleared to play in the second rugby test against Wales on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said Jones' replacement, 20-year-old Dan Biggar, was always going to start this test, and that the veteran might not even make it to the bench, depending on a medical assessment. Flying another first five-eighth out from Wales as cover had been considered but it was deemed such a player would arrive too late.

There was better news on the other side of Hamilton after the All Blacks completed a 90-minute session in teeming rain near the Waikato Stadium match venue.

Carter, who scored two tries amid a 27-points haul in the 42-9 first test win at Dunedin, stretched for longer than his teammates before taking a full part in training, including a goalkicking session at the end.

His buildup bears an uncanny resemblance to the two teams' test in Cardiff last November when Carter was under an injury cloud all week due to a calf niggle.

Welsh management doubted he would start but he did, going on to commit a high tackle during the 19-12 win which saw him suspended for a week.

Gatland was dubious again today, admittedly before the All Blacks trained, speculating on whether the All Blacks would turn to halfback Piri Weepu or youngster Aaron Cruden to replace Carter at No 10.

He also took the chance to highlight a perennial chink in New Zealand's armour -- providing backup for Carter and captain Richie McCaw.

"Last year you could see when Dan and Richie weren't playing, the number of games that they tended to not be as competent as what they were last week," he said.

"What I'm saying is not new ... that New Zealand are not quite as potent without those two players, or one of those players when one of them is missing."

Presuming Carter plays, there will be no room for Luke McAlister, who was called into the All Blacks squad today on standby.

Second five-eighth McAlister, who has starred in the New Zealand Maori team's three wins this month, would have provided bench cover, with Cruden starting in place of Carter.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry would not want to risk Carter's health ahead of the Tri-Nations, with the 28-year-old proving last week he was back to his best form after a subdued Super 14 campaign with the Crusaders.

Biggar's introduction is one of two Welsh changes, with injured centre Andrew Bishop replaced by Jonathan Davies.

Gatland has otherwise retained faith in the side who faltered badly in the second half at Carisbrook.

Biggar, one of nine Ospreys players in the starting 15, is considered one of the best talents in Wales and this year controversially forced quality playmaker James Hook to shift to centre at franchise level.

"Back home there's a lot of mixed views about Dan, people either love him or hate him," Gatland said.

"That's the unfortunate thing that happens with 10s and particularly in Wales.

"He's a young kid with a lot of talent, a lot of potential, a lot of leadership qualities."

This will be Biggar's first start against a major test-playing nation. He came off the bench last Saturday and before that had started tests against Canada and Samoa.

Gatland has made four changes to his bench, with Jones sitting alongside a promoted trio -- halfback Richard Rees, winger Will Harries and prop Craig Mitchell.

Heaslip: Actions 'completely out of character'

Jamie Heaslip's Australasian tour is over after he was handed a five-week ban for striking with the knee.

The Ireland number eight was sent off 15 minutes into Saturday's 66-28 loss to New Zealand in New Plymouth for twice kneeing All Blacks captain Richie McCaw at a ruck.

Heaslip faced an International Rugby Board judiciary on Sunday where he learned his fate from judicial officer Michael Cashman.

His five-week ban is on the mid-range of the scale and rules him out of all rugby up to and including July 17.

The reality is the Leinster man will miss just two games - Friday's match against the New Zealand Maori in Rotorua and the following weekend's Test against Australia.

Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton said Heaslip, who admitted the offence but denied making contact with McCaw's head, got a fair hearing. Cashman determined the first strike was to the head.

"To have him red-carded so early in the game was crucial, although not an excuse. We're disappointed about that," said McNaughton.

"But we went to the hearing and Jamie put his hand up in terms of the offence and we were happy with the way the judicial inquiry went."

He added: "[Jamie] is very disappointed his tour is over.

"He's disappointed about the game and he's disappointed that he can't participate in the next two games, especially the game against Australia.

"He feels he's let the guys down as well in relation to the game. In fact, he apologised to the rest of the squad and the team immediately after the game."

McNaughton also insisted the 26-year-old's actions were totally out of character.

"He's never been cited or red-carded in his professional or amateur career, so it is completely out of character," he added.

"The judicial officer came in with a medium-level ruling and they also took into account his being contrite and owning up to it and his attitude at the tribunal itself."