Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

Handling mistakes again threatened to overshadow the All Blacks performance before three late tries in the last 12 minutes set up a 33-6 win over South Africa in the Tri Nations Test in front of 33,708 at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.

It was another game in which the All Blacks, for a long period, were unable to impose themselves over a below-strength opponent and leaves next Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland as the Tri Nations decider.

No tries were scored in the first 68 minutes in play notable for the chances created by the All Blacks, but not taken, even when the South Africans had flanker Pedrie Wannenburg sin-binned midway through the second half.

So many handling mistakes were made that the All Blacks hardly fed the scrum all evening.

The All Blacks couldn't find their attacking continuity through the first half while their lineout also battled.

Initially the Springboks were not as intensive in the forward exchanges and more committed to running the ball at every chance.

....it was a Springboks knock-on that saw wing Doug Howlett pick up the ball and then feed wing Joe Rokocoko who then found replacement halfback Brendon Leonard with a backhand flick pass and he raced home to score after 68 minutes.

There was no doubt about the second try however, created by quick hands which spread the defence, and allowed replacement wing Nick Evans to burst down the right flank and force his way over for first five-eighths Daniel Carter to land a splendid sideline conversion.

The final try, scored in injury time, resulted from a lengthy period in which advantage was matched by counter advantage before the ball dropped at the feet of Carter and he was able to race 30 metres to score by the posts and land the conversion for 23 points from the game.