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.

 

Botha: hearing on Sunday

South Africa lock Bakkies Botha will face a disciplinary hearing on Sunday after he was shown on television headbutting All Blacks scrum-half Jimmy Cowan during the Tri-Nations opener at Eden Park.

The second-minute incident was not seen by referee Alan Lewis or his assistants.

Botha was cited for dangerous play after the match by SANZAR citing commissioner Scott Nowland, the competition's ruling body said in a statement, and he will appear at a hearing before judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan in Auckland on Sunday.

Cowan had pulled Botha's jersey as they both ran back for a loose ball. Botha tackled the scrum-half, who cleared the ball to a supporting player.

Television replays showed Botha appearing to pause after completing the tackle before launching himself at Cowan, striking the back of his head.

Botha was sin-binned in the 13th minute for persistent infringing, as the Springboks mounted a desperate goal-line defence with the hosts pushing for a try.

New Zealand won the game 32-12. The sides meet again in the second match of the Tri-Nations next Saturday in Wellington.

MUNSTER have announced the signing of All Blacks centre Sam Tuitupou from Worcester for next season, writes Hugh Farrelly.

With Springbok centre Jean de Villiers returning to South Africa, 28-year-old Tuitupou has been brought in to bolster midfield resources. Powerfully built, with a low centre of gravity at 5'9", Tuitupou won nine caps for New Zealand between 2004 and 2006 and captained his country at U-19 and U-21 levels.

The former Auckland Blues centre joins Leicester wing Johne Murphy as Munster's back-line additions for next season and the province have also confirmed that flanker Tommy O'Donnell, prop Dave Ryan and scrum-half Duncan Williams have been upgraded from development to full professional contracts.

In addition, academy players Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Stephen Archer, Scott Deasy, Peter O'Mahony and Danny Barnes have been promoted to full development contracts.

Training contracted player Declan Cusack, who started at out-half in the recent win over Connacht, has also been promoted to a full development contract.

Irish Independent

STACY SQUIRES/The Press

HELD BACK: Dan Carter is struggling for form and his Crusaders teammates are being asked to help him out.

The acid has been applied to Dan Carter's team-mates as the search continues for the No10's missing X factor.

Crusaders assistant coach Mark Hammett last night put the onus on other players to help Carter recapture his mojo as they prepare for Saturday morning's Super 14 match against the Bulls at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld.

Having watched Carter save the Crusaders' bacon on countless occasions, the coaches are calling on his team-mates to repay a few favours against a formidable Bulls team who have won their last 17 matches at Fort Loftus and have already qualified for a semifinal.

Hammett said that whoever was standing outside Carter, whether it be from set play or second-phase, needed to take more responsibility by communicating and helping with his decision-making.

"DC [Dan Carter] is probably struggling for a wee bit of form, but believe it or not I believe it is a really good thing for him," Hammett said.

"In years gone by he's probably had the likes of Aaron Mauger [standing outside him] and when he's been playing for the All Blacks he's got an experienced group. He's got a very young group outside him [with the Crusaders] and while sometimes that's frustrating ... he's actually growing his game without realising it."

Hammett will be well aware that Carter must fire this weekend if the Crusaders are to snare an unlikely win on the high veldt and keep their play-off hopes alive.

"As a backline combination these young guys really need to start feeding information in and make sure they aren't just the ears to listen for what DC wants – because often at Super 14 level the speed of the game is too quick," Hammett said.

Even though he has not been in vintage form all season, Carter's recent performances in the defeats against the Stormers and Western Force were well below his best. Even when taking into account that his forwards have struggled, never has the world's best No10 been so out of form.

Among those required to ramp up their games, if they start, are midfielders Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean. The latter, especially, has struggled with his form.

In last weekend's 42-14 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town the Crusaders struggled with their lineout and Ti'i Paulo will start because hooker Corey Flynn has been sent home with a sprained ankle.

While noting he was generally satisfied with how they negated the Stormers drives from lineouts, Hammett said his side's own lineout was not flash, but there would be plenty of work on it this week as they prepared to confront a Bulls set piece containing the Springboks' twin towers of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. The Crusaders had battled to win their opening throws in recent matches, which eroded their confidence.

"I suppose the odd demon comes into the hooker's head and we may have a couple of pre-calls this week to get those first couple out of the road," Hammett said.

"We have great lineout forwards in Chris Jack, Brad Thorn and Kieran Read so there are plenty of options there. We just need to get everything working together. We are pretty sure we have got some pretty good options up our sleeve this week against Matfield and Botha."

 

John Smit: 100 Super Rugby caps for the Sharks

Springbok skipper John Smit will win his 100th Super Rugby cap when he captains the Sharks against the Cheetahs in Durban on Friday.

Smit is set to become the first South African to achieve the feat representing the same franchise, with the Bulls' loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg also in line for the record when he takes to the field for his side against the Brumbies 24 hours later.

Former Wallabies and Brumbies scrum-half George Gregan holds the Super Rugby record with 136 games.

AJ Venter holds the record for playing the most games by a South African in the competition but his 125 caps were split between the Sharks, the Cats and the Stormers.

Sharks coach John Plumtree hailed his skipper's record.

"He's been outstanding for us and the achievement of 100 caps for just one union, that's massive for John," said Plumtree.

"Players move around a lot, so to play 100 games for one province is really significant. It was great that we got him back from France or he wouldn't have been able to achieve it."

Smit said the atmosphere at the Sharks was a major contributing factor to his return to Durban from Clermont.

"Probably one of the things that has made it so worthwhile staying at The Sharks is that more often than not there are a good bunch of guys and that's probably more important than having a good bunch of players because they get along, understand each other and always willing to put the team needs ahead of their own," he told the Sharks website.

"I missed a season through a shoulder injury and one spent in France and through those things you wonder to yourself where it will all end and to be sitting here now, 31 years old about to run out for my 100th game for The Sharks, I'm pretty proud of that. I'm grateful as well, it so easily could have been impossible and here I sit, back from France, captaining The Sharks, it's a pretty amazing feeling.

"It has really been about the players I've got to know.

"We've had some phenomenal seasons, I really enjoyed my first season because of the legends I was playing with and the kind of players I was surrounded by, Henry Honiball, Andre Joubert, Gary Teichmann, it was my apprenticeship.

"Then in 2001 was a magical season with a new generation like Butch James, Craig Davidson and Trevor Halstead coming through under the likes of Mark Andrews and Ollie le Roux, and 2007 was obviously also a magical year."

Smit added that he still yearns for a Super 14 title.

"That's where hunger comes in, not only to win the Super 14 when we haven't won it but also about the tough training, playing in a team environment," he said.

"I enjoy the camaraderie, the game day, but I've played in two finals and lost, hopefully there will be an opportunity to take those lessons and put them to good use in the future. It's important to be hungry for every day, not just a final."