Springboks claim Tri-Nations crown

Heading into the match John Smit and his men needed a bonus point at worst to secure the title for the third time but in the end the boots of Francois Steyn and his namesake Morne, and tries to Fourie du Preez and Jean de Villiers ensured they took the win.

The match at a sold-out Waikato Stadium never really hit the heights of All Blacks-Springboks clashes of old due to its stop-start nature, the high error count and the wealth of kicking but it mattered not to the visitors.

They were 22-12 up by half-time thanks to a lone try by Du Preez, three long-range penalties from full-back Francois Steyn and a penalty, conversion and drop goal from their fly-half.

It was the kickers who kept the scoreboard ticking over in the opening quarter with Francois Steyn (from inside his own half) and Carter exchanging penalties and Morne Steyn banging over a drop goal to get the visitors 9-6 up.

The visitors extended their lead with the opening try of the game after Du Preez chased his own huge up and under. He and Joe Rokocoko rose for the ball with neither able to claim it but the Boks tidied up quickly and Bakkies Botha was stopped just short and from the ruck Du Preez sold a dummy and burrowed his way over.

Another Carter penalty, which took him past 900 Test points, reduced the deficit to 16-9 but it was short-lived as Francois Steyn stepped up to kick over his third penalty from inside his own half.

More All Blacks indiscipline - Kieran Read shoulder-charging Bryan Habana after the whistle had gone - gave Morne Steyn another simple shot at goal which he duly converted and Carter kicked his fourth penalty of the match just before half-time to leave the score 22-12 in the Springboks' favour.

The visitors struck first after the break when De Villiers raced in for his intercept. But the introduction of Isaia Toeava for Stephen Donald paid dividends when the midfielder ran around Schalk Burger and beat Odwa Ndungane before offloading to Sivivatu who slid over the line.

Carter's conversion got the All Blacks back to within 10 points and he and Morne Steyn exchanged further penalties before the All Blacks pivot's pinpoint kick found Richie McCaw who dotted down to set up a thrilling finale.