The All Blacks are the first team through to Rugby World Cup semi finals with a comprehensive 29-9 win over South Africa in the first quarter final from the Telstra Dome in Melbourne tonight.
It is the first time South Africa have failed to make the RWC semi finals and the fifth time New Zealand have made it through.
A Carlos Spencer through the legs pass for a Joe Rokocko try on 71 minutes summed up the night for South Africa, outplayed by a more confident and ultimately better organised All Black XV.
The All Blacks led 13-6 at half time, inside centre Leon MacDonald contributing all the points with a try, two penalties and a conversion, while rookie Springbok fly half Derick Hougaard kicked two penalties.
South Africa opened the second half the more aggressive of the two teams, missing a golden opportunity inside the first minute, Jorrie Muller deciding to hold on with the line open and scrum half van der Westhuizen unmarked and screaming for the ball on his left.
Width against brawn
It was a classic battle of attacking width against defensive brawn, the attack winning three tries to none.
The All Black display was not without defensive muscle, twice repelling Springbok attacks from 10 metres. South Africa opted for the lineout from penalties within kicking range twice in a minute and failed to convert either into a try.
All Black hooker Keven Mealamu topped off a fabulous game with ball in hand, scoring the second New Zealand try on 59 minutes with a 20 metre try from classic pick and drive play.
Mealumu was the best of a generally good XV, number 8 Jerry Collins and fly half Spencer also very effective. For South Africa none were better than skipper Corne Krige.
Scoring opportunity
It was left to inside centre Aaron Mauger to start the second half scoring, dropping a goal from 20 metres on 44 minutes to make the score 16-6.
Kees Meeuws was held up over the line on 52 minutes and Marshall knocked on a metre out a minute later as the All Blacks built pressure inside the Springbok half for a full 10 minutes.
New Zealand forced the promised Springbok defensive “wall of green” to do most of its work in their own territory for much of the half, the All Blacks converting only one of four breaks.
A late 50 metre pick and drive operation by the Springboks went six phases, producing a scrum inside the All Black 22 from which scrum half Joost van der Westhuizen went in to touch a metre from the corner post.
Hougaard kicked a penalty in the final seconds of the half.
New Zealand had the better of the opening
New Zealand had the better of the opening ten minutes, enjoying 77 percent of possession, the Springboks missing seven tackles as the All Blacks employed an effective pick and drive strategy against a defence not willing to overcommit bodies at the breakdown.
Justin Marshall made a long break on seven minutes but failed to find a flying Rokocoko, the All Blacks taking the first points through a Leon MacDonald penalty when Springbok hands were caught playing the ball on the ground, 3-0 New Zealand.
As if bored by the cut and thrust of the opening, All Black fly half Carlos Spencer attacked the line on 16 minutes, slicing through with a dummy inside and a change of pace to beat flanker Danie Rossouw and Victor Matfield on the left before sending MacDonald in under the posts for a 10-0 lead.
The All Blacks exploited the fast rushing defence of inside centre De Wet Barry, first Aaron Mauger found space and then MacDonald sliced through but both times the ball carriers ran away from their support and the play broke down.
New Zealand now play the winner of Australia and Scotland in Sydney on Saturday 15 November at Telstra Stadium.
The South Africans are eliminated at the earliest stage of their RWC history.