Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1591995/all-blacks-edge-out-boks-gritty-clash Rugby
All Blacks edge out Boks in gritty clash
Captain Richie McCaw calls it ‘a hell of a game’ after New Zealand earn hard-fought victory over South Africa
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw dives in at the corner to score in the tackle of South Africa's Jan Serfontein in the clash at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Photos: AP
Captain Richie McCaw scored a second-half try to help the All Blacks maintain their five-year unbeaten record in New Zealand with a tense 14-10 victory over a combative Springboks side in the Rugby Championship in Wellington on Saturday.
McCaw was the beneficiary of a pin-point cross-kick from Aaron Cruden that was hauled in by number eight Kieran Read who fed his skipper who dived over in the corner.
Cruden slotted two penalties for the home side while Beauden Barrett added another after he replaced Cruden late in the second half to give the home side 16 points at the top of the Rugby Championship table. South Africa are on 10.
"It was a hell of a battle out there tonight," McCaw said. "I think the difference in the first half, we were on the back foot a little bit when they were getting the edge at the contact area and we were forced into poor decisions and poor kicks and poor handling.
"When you do that against a team like that you put yourself under pressure. The second half was better but no means perfect."
Rookie South Africa fly half Handre Pollard had been seen as a gamble by coach Heyneke Meyer, but demonstrated a mature cool head far beyond his 20 years and inexperience of just three previous tests.
Pollard set up Cornal Hendricks' first-half try with a brilliant inside pass, converted it and then slotted a long-range drop goal for the visitors who had the opportunity to win the match late on with several attacking lineouts but were thwarted.
"It's a tough one to swallow," said Springboks captain Jean de Villiers, who played his 100th test match on Saturday. "It's a loss to a quality side and very good team.
"We gave ourselves a chance but didn't quite get there in the end."
The All Blacks have been unbeaten in New Zealand for five years - a run of 36 successive tests - last losing at home to South Africa in Hamilton on September 12, 2009.
The hosts had the majority of the ball and territory but were thwarted by a superb Springboks defensive effort, led by number eight Duane Vermuelen and flanker Marcel Coetzee.
"It was pretty desperate times," McCaw added of the final 10 minutes.
"It reveals the character of your team when you have to dig deep. They were also under pressure because they had to score so we just had to hold our nerve and keep tackling and the mistake came." 
All Blacks winger Julian Savea dodges a diving tackle from South Africa's Handre Pollard.