All Black loosie Jerry Collins bursts through the Springbok defence during the Tri Nations test in Durban. Photo / Getty Images

All Black loosie Jerry Collins bursts through the Springbok defence during the Tri Nations test in Durban. Photo / Getty Images

DURBAN - The All Blacks celebrated a rare recent victory on South African soil with a storming final stanza to beat the Springboks 26-21 in the Tri-Nations rugby test in Durban today.

Down 12-21 with 15 minutes remaining, the All Blacks raced in two converted tries in three minutes to captain Richie McCaw and wing Joe Rokocoko to successfully open their title defence in clinical style.

Before a packed house of 52,000 at Absa Stadium, it was just the All Blacks' second win from their last five tests in the republic. Both sides scored two tries apiece.

It was the All Blacks' first big test of the year after comfortable victories over an under-manned France and an outclassed Canada, while the physical Springboks defended magnificently but seemed to feel the effects of last weekend's torrid 22-19 win over the Wallabies in the final quarter.

After a bruising first half of huge collisions, turnovers and handling errors it took until just seconds before the halftime whistle for the first try of the match.

Springboks colossus Schalk Burger, a mighty defensive presence for the home side, snapped a 6-6 deadlock when he crashed over from a lineout drive to give the hosts an 11-6 lead at the break.

On a warm, sunny day with temperatures about 24degC, both sides struggled to finish off chances in the first half.

The Springboks dominated possession and the physical exchanges in the opening quarter but the All Blacks' defence scrambled.

Percy Montgomery's fifth minute penalty was followed by a monster 53m penalty from halfback Ruan Pienaar to make it 6-0 after 20 minutes.

All Blacks star Dan Carter missed two kickable penalties within 40m, but he made amends in the 31st and 37th minutes to level the scores as the tourists grew in confidence.

Burger's try on halftime sparked one of a host of niggly moments which threatened to boil over, both forward packs pushing and shoving after the whistle.

Aaron Mauger's dropped goal from 30m narrowed it to 11-9 immediately after halftime, before the cool-headed midfielder turned villain three minutes later.

From a promising All Blacks counter-attack, Mauger flipped a pass straight to Springboks' No 10 Butch James who raced 35m to score his second test try. Montgomery's conversion made it 18-9 with 35 minutes remaining.