All Blacks make Boks pay
New Zealand made the most of a wasteful kicking display from South Africa to secure a 21-11 win in Dunedin.
Last Updated: 15/09/12 2:23pm
An outstanding individual try from Aaron Smith helped inspire New Zealand to a 21-11 win over South Africa in Dunedin on Saturday.
Smith, who had been dropped to the bench for a breach of team protocol last weekend, replaced Piri Weepu at half-time.
And with the scores tied on eight apiece the replacement half-back scooted through the defence midway through the second half for the try to break the deadlock.
The All Blacks scored two tries to one to record their 14th Test win, with Israel Dagg having put his name on the scoresheet prior to Smith at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Springboks had their opportunities however, particularly in goal-kicking where Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn and Johan Goosen combined for only two of nine attempts.
The Boks missed two early opportunities, with wing Bryan Habana unable to hold an awkward pass with the line open and Frans Steyn missing a shot at goal from almost 50m on the angle.
Fortunate
But when the All Blacks infringed at a breakdown after 18 minutes, Morne Steyn hit the target from 36m to open the scoring.
The All Blacks replied immediately though, when hooker Andrew Hore broke and number eight Kieran Read laid on the pass to give full-back Dagg a clear run to the line to make it 5-3.
Morne Steyn missed a 44m penalty from in front and the All Blacks swept back on to the attack.
And Frans Steyn gave a reminder of what distance he is capable of when his penalty attempt from almost 10m inside his own half fell was just under the bar.
But the Springboks were giving as good as they received in the forward exchanges, with lock Flip van der Merwe prominent.
Morne Steyn however could not hit the target and missed his second consecutive penalty attempt and then two more to leave the Boks with the poor return of one success out of six.
The All Blacks were fortunate to lead at the interval though, after Springboks enjoyed 58 per cent of the territory and forced six turnovers while conceding two..
Brilliant
But Habana grabbed the lead for the Springboks with a brilliant individual try eight minutes after the restart when he raced from a line-out 40m out, chipped and re-gathered to score in the right corner.
But Morne Steyn missed again and Aaron Cruden kicked a neat penalty three minutes later to tie the scores at 8-8 as the arm wrestle continued.
Winger Cory Jane had been safe under the high ball for the All Blacks and made another fine take as the Springboks tried to pressurise New Zealand's back three.
But South Africa were kicking too much ball away and the All Blacks made them pay when Smith dummied and sidestepped through the defence from 25m out to score a gem of a try.
The Boks then suffered another blow when replacement prop Dean Greyling was sin-binned as he dived indiscriminately into a ruck.
Johan Goosen took over kicking duties from the out-of-sorts Morne Steyn but missed with a long-range attempt from 55m to make it one goal from eight for the Springboks.
He was on target from 39m soon after however, and it was 15-11 with 11 minutes left before Cruden's two late penalties added gloss to the final result.