Freedom Cup 2015

 Willie le Roux of South Africa tackled by Charles Piutau of New Zealand during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(July 24, 2015 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

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 Dane Coles of New Zealand breaks away during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(July 24, 2015 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

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A late Richie McCaw try helped the All Blacks clinch a closely-fought clash with the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, winning 27-20.

New Zealand have become masters of the fast finish and it was fitting that McCaw - in what was probably his last Test on South African soil - landed the killer blow against their fiercest rivals.

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 Richie McCaw (All blacks Captain) in action during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(juil. 24, 2015 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

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 Kieran Read of New Zealand gets tackled by Heinrich Brussow during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(July 24, 2015 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

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Man of the match: A mention for Lood de Jager, who worked tirelessly but Charles Piutau booked his ticket to the World Cup with a faultless display on defence and an electric performance on attack. 

Moment of the match: How do they always do it? McCaw's try was another example of New Zealand's clinical execution as they came back from behind once again. 

Match Report / Planet Rugby

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Cornal Hendricks of South Africa and Ma'a Nonu of New Zealand in action during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(Juli 24, 2015 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

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The Freedom Cup is on display during The Castle Lager Rugby Championship 2015 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on July 25, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(Juli 24, 2015 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

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Springboks fall short in Wellington / Freedom Cup

 Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks is tackled by Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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New Zealand overturned a half-time deficit to claim a 14-10 victory over South Africa in a thrilling Rugby Championship Test at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Only two tries were scored - one apiece - but the clash between the two best sides in the world lived up to its billing as the All Blacks were forced to hang on in a nail-biting finish to an outstanding contest.

New Zealand dominated the territory (over 70 percent) and possession statistics in the first half but it was the Springboks who led 7-6 at the interval thanks to a try from wing Cornal Hendricks.

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 Richie McCaw of the All Blacks scores a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Adriaan Strauss of the Springboks runs at Richie McCaw of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Jean de Villiers of the Springboks leaves the field after earning his 100th test cap during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks makes a break during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Richie McCaw of the All Blacks scores a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Man of the match: Firstly a mention for Handré Pollard, who had a blinder, and underlined his status as South Africa's best 10. Likewise, a mention for Victor Matfield who tackled his heart out a ruled the line-outs. But we'll go for Richie McCaw, who scored the winning try and topped the Kiwi tackle count.

Moment of the match: It went down to the wire, but the New Zealand's defence in the final minute was brilliant.

Match Report / Planet Rugby

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 Kieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Kieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Jean de Villiers of the Springboks is congratulated on his 100th test by Richie McCaw of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Richie McCaw of the All Blacks scores a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Mark Tantrum/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Richie McCaw of the All Blacks hols up the Freedom Cup after winning The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Kieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Steven Luatua of the All Blacks charges forward during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(September 12, 2014 - Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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freedom cup

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 Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks in action during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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All Blacks matched Boks physicality, used quick game to win

Blood was spilled, an all-in brawl erupted and both teams had players sent from the field yet New Zealand's 29-15 Rugby Championship victory over traditional rivals South Africa was based around a simple principle.

Yahoo Rugby News:

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 Kieran Read (L) and Sam Whitelock (R) of the All Blacks tackle Duane Vermeulen of South Africa during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Injury ends Carter's Rugby Championship

 Dan Carter of the All Blacks is injured during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Dan Carter's Rugby Championship is over, his shoulder joint injury ruling him out for six weeks which means his next All Blacks test is likely to come against France in Paris in November.

That will be the 31-year-old's 98th test, the big 100 milestone likely to happen against Ireland in Dublin on the end of year tour if the veteran first-five's body survives the French test and the one a week later against England at Twickenham.

Carter tweeted today of his injury which occurred in the first half of the All Blacks' 29-15 victory over South Africa at Eden Park when he was tackled heavily by Bismarck du Plessis, for which the hooker was sinbinned: "Nothing wrong with the tackle. Fell awkwardly and popped my AC joint.'' 

NZ Herald News

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 Sam Cane of New Zealand in action during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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ALL BLACKS SURVIVE SPRINGBOKS ONSLAUGHT TO WIN THE BATTLE OF THE BEST

SANZAR news service

This was an epic of the highest quality, where the visitors were able to inflict heavy casualties on the All Blacks, but while they may have lost some collision based battles, they definitely won the war despite the early jitters caused by the impact of the Springboks tackles.

The two sides looked to get into their rhythms early, and the tone was set with the South Africans employing a rush defence to try and unsettle the All Blacks, while Kieran Read and his troops not only looked to play their own style, but were very enthusiastic about taking the Springboks on – literally head on.

Sam Cane, the victim of a heavy knock, always seemed to have blood flowing due to the aggression between the two mighty rivals, and while the All Blacks were eventually forced to empty their bench, as well as finish the contest with only 13 men, they often came out on top in the specific areas of the rugby field.

While it would be hard to remember the last time an All Blacks team was so physically assaulted, they relied on their systems to allow them to overcome a South African team that wasn’t able to duplicate the magic out wide that allowed them to defeat the Wallabies, even if their pack matched the efforts seen at Suncorp Stadium.

 Jean de Villiers of South Africa charges over Julian Savea and Conrad Smith of New Zealand during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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The win for the current title holders set a new tournament record with the All Blacks winning nine straight matches in The Rugby Championship / Tri Nations, while it was the 383rd Test win for New Zealand, establishing a new record as the most successful rugby nation in Test history.

SANZAR News Service:

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 Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks runs in to score a try during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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 Ben Smith of New Zealand fends against Morne Steyn of South Africa during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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next test:

28 Sep 

S.A v Aus

Arg v NZ

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Duane Vermeulen of South Africa tackles Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at Eden Park on September 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand.

(September 13, 2013 - Source: Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2013

		Pl	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/-	Pts
1	New Zealand	4	4	0	0	131	73	58	18
2	South Africa	4	3	0	1	148	71	77	14
3	Australia	4	1	0	3	71	125	-54	4
4	Argentina	4	0	0	4	56	137	-81	2