KEY POINTS:
Dealing to the Springbok spectre was also a personal triumph for All Black No 8 Rodney So'oialo.
For almost a year, So'oialo has carried the grisly memory of the All Blacks' last test in South Africa and his undignified part in their 21-20 demise. It was just one of those matches for the 26-year-old; his sloppy pass gave an intercept try to Bryan Habana and his obstructive decoy run rubbed out an Andrew Hore try.
So'oialo's troubles continued when he was penalised for a clumsy offside and Andre Pretorius kicked the goal to continue the Springboks' annual domestic hex against Graham Henry's All Blacks.
Deep into the final quarter of yesterday's Tri-Nations test at Durban, that hoodoo appeared on a repeat curve as the All Blacks, despite growing waves of possession and authority, could not crack the Springboks' lead. But an inspired 40m kick return from So'oialo past a wilting Springbok defence led to a series of phases and captain Richie McCaw driving across the line.
Minutes later a counter-attack gave Joe Rokocoko a try and the All Blacks their eventual 26-21 victory.
The catch-up points came in a flurry as the All Blacks gassed up the tempo and introduced their strike power from the bench.
So'oialo, who has become the senior No 8 for Henry over 34 internationals, was chosen as man of the match, an award that could have gone to a number of the forwards.
The frontrowers scrummed the Springboks out of the game, McCaw was magnificent, Jerry Collins played rugby dodgems throughout with Schalk Burger and the second-tier locks all made an impact.
The backs were solid without being spectacular, Byron Kelleher, Isaia Toeava and Rokocoko having maybe a shade more influence than the others.
As they all slumped in their aircraft seats for their lengthy journey today to Melbourne and their next Tri-Nations assignment against the Wallabies on Saturday, So'oialo could have indulged in some satisfied mental replays of his work in Durban.
His relentless high intensity, growing lineout presence, skills and workrate made up a quality package needed to combat the Springbok ferocity, to send a message that it would take more than bully boys to subdue the All Blacks.
There was nothing subtle about the Boks; there was little variety in their attack while their tactical kicking was patchy. So'oialo cleaned up much of the debris - one of a host of rugged defenders. He made mistakes, as the All Blacks did with nine handling errors by halftime.
But So'oialo had more game than the Boks, more fuel and more composure. When the pressure lifted in the second half, they could not stay with the pace or the challenge.
Substitutes like Francois Steyn twitched under the strain while Keven Mealamu, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu and Leon MacDonald ramped up the contribution from the bench.
The All Blacks were dangerous with the ball, even in a match where first five-eighths Daniel Carter was a moderate contributor by his high standards, while the Springboks were one-dimensional on attack.
That tactic may eventually have prevailed against the Wallabies but against an All Black side with attitude, it gained little traction.
There was a grinding try to Burger from a lineout drive and an intercept for Butch James from a sloppy Aaron Mauger pass but they were rare moments. For most of the test the All Blacks had the Thou Shalt Not Pass sign out.
The scrum set the initial example, nudging and unsettling the Springbok pack, while McCaw delivered the defensive template early when he knocked the massive Bakkies Botha into touch at the corner. The All Blacks absorbed the Springbok fury and then spat the venom back in their face.
As a World Cup warning it carried strong messages that brute force will not be good enough to beat the All Blacks. As a Tri-Nations pointer it suggested the Wallabies and Springboks have a difficult task to claim the silverware.Redemption sweet for So'oialo
Rodney So'oialo rampages up the field during his man-of-the-match performance in Durban. Photo / Getty Images
Dealing to the Springbok spectre was also a personal triumph for All Black No 8 Rodney So'oialo.
For almost a year, So'oialo has carried the grisly memory of the All Blacks' last test in South Africa and his undignified part in their 21-20 demise. It was just one of those matches for the 26-year-old; his sloppy pass gave an intercept try to Bryan Habana and his obstructive decoy run rubbed out an Andrew Hore try.
So'oialo's troubles continued when he was penalised for a clumsy offside and Andre Pretorius kicked the goal to continue the Springboks' annual domestic hex against Graham Henry's All Blacks.
Deep into the final quarter of yesterday's Tri-Nations test at Durban, that hoodoo appeared on a repeat curve as the All Blacks, despite growing waves of possession and authority, could not crack the Springboks' lead. But an inspired 40m kick return from So'oialo past a wilting Springbok defence led to a series of phases and captain Richie McCaw driving across the line.
Minutes later a counter-attack gave Joe Rokocoko a try and the All Blacks their eventual 26-21 victory.
The catch-up points came in a flurry as the All Blacks gassed up the tempo and introduced their strike power from the bench.
So'oialo, who has become the senior No 8 for Henry over 34 internationals, was chosen as man of the match, an award that could have gone to a number of the forwards.
The frontrowers scrummed the Springboks out of the game, McCaw was magnificent, Jerry Collins played rugby dodgems throughout with Schalk Burger and the second-tier locks all made an impact.
The backs were solid without being spectacular, Byron Kelleher, Isaia Toeava and Rokocoko having maybe a shade more influence than the others.
As they all slumped in their aircraft seats for their lengthy journey today to Melbourne and their next Tri-Nations assignment against the Wallabies on Saturday, So'oialo could have indulged in some satisfied mental replays of his work in Durban.
His relentless high intensity, growing lineout presence, skills and workrate made up a quality package needed to combat the Springbok ferocity, to send a message that it would take more than bully boys to subdue the All Blacks.
There was nothing subtle about the Boks; there was little variety in their attack while their tactical kicking was patchy. So'oialo cleaned up much of the debris - one of a host of rugged defenders. He made mistakes, as the All Blacks did with nine handling errors by halftime.
But So'oialo had more game than the Boks, more fuel and more composure. When the pressure lifted in the second half, they could not stay with the pace or the challenge.
Substitutes like Francois Steyn twitched under the strain while Keven Mealamu, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu and Leon MacDonald ramped up the contribution from the bench.
The All Blacks were dangerous with the ball, even in a match where first five-eighths Daniel Carter was a moderate contributor by his high standards, while the Springboks were one-dimensional on attack.
That tactic may eventually have prevailed against the Wallabies but against an All Black side with attitude, it gained little traction.
There was a grinding try to Burger from a lineout drive and an intercept for Butch James from a sloppy Aaron Mauger pass but they were rare moments. For most of the test the All Blacks had the Thou Shalt Not Pass sign out.
The scrum set the initial example, nudging and unsettling the Springbok pack, while McCaw delivered the defensive template early when he knocked the massive Bakkies Botha into touch at the corner. The All Blacks absorbed the Springbok fury and then spat the venom back in their face.
As a World Cup warning it carried strong messages that brute force will not be good enough to beat the All Blacks. As a Tri-Nations pointer it suggested the Wallabies and Springboks have a difficult task to claim the silverware.
