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The Rugby Championship 2014
SportRugby

Last-gasp Springboks penalty ends All Blacks’ unbeaten run

Pat Lambie kicks 55-metre penalty in last minute to see New Zealand defeated for first time in two years

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All Black Aaron Smith tackles South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira during their Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Photo: Reuters
Associated Press

Pat Lambie kicked a penalty from his own half with a minute to go to deliver a breathless 27-25 win for South Africa over New Zealand on Saturday, the world champions’ first loss in two years.

Replacement fly-half Lambie’s 55-metre kick settled a pulsating Rugby Championship test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Already Rugby Championship winners for a third straight year, the All Blacks had shown their world-champion resilience to come back from 11 points down with 15 minutes to go to lead in the dying minutes.

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In a crucial decision, referee Wayne Barnes took advice from a television official to take play back to an illegal tackle by New Zealand, and Lambie was on target with his 79th-minute match-winning penalty from far out.

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South Africa made all the running in the first half, and New Zealand had control of the game through the second, as the two top-ranked teams in the world extended their reputation for throwing up memorable battles.

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