All Blacks trample Springboks for second week

Kieran Read of the All Blacks looks to evade Gurthro Steenkamp of the Springboks. Photo / Getty Images

Different venue, same outcome.

The All Blacks hammered the Springboks 31-17 here tonight to complete a miserable start to rugby's Tri-Nations for the defending champions and reinforce the growing stature of Richie McCaw's team.

Following last week's 32-12 win at Auckland, there was a belief the fired-up South Africans would bounce back in style a week later.

They were better for periods, introducing a more staunch defensive line -- particularly in a stop-start first half -- while the All Blacks' ball control was never going to be as good due to damp conditions.

The hosts were once again far sharper on attack, winning the breakdown battle comprehensively and possessing enough gamebreakers out wide to power away in the second spell for their 11th straight test win.

New Zealand crucially took advantage of the controversial early sinbinning of Springboks lock Danie Rossouw, scoring two of their four tries while he was absent to establish a lead they were never to surrender. Rossouw was introduced for this test in place of the suspended Bakkies Botha, who was also yellow-carded in the first half at Eden Park.

The visitors largely persisted with their trademark bombs from first five-eighth Morne Steyn, with limited results while they couldn't gain the advantage they desperately wanted in an even set piece battle.

The All Blacks picked up their second bonus point from two matches, setting them up for a strong tilt at another Tri-Nations title.

The game began on an explosive note when Rossouw was shown a yellow card by Irish referee Alain Rolland in the fourth minute.

Rossouw appeared to put his hand near All Blacks captain McCaw's face and then feigned a knee towards McCaw which didn't connect but sparked a standoff between the pair.

Playing his 50th test, Rossouw appeared stunned when sent to the sinbin, told by Rolland that ``you know what you did''.

Within eight minutes, the hosts had crossed for tries to second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu and fullback Mils Muliaina, opening up a decisive 10-point lead.

Outstanding No 8 Kieran Read, winger Cory Jane and McCaw were excellent in the buildup to the first try, ending when Nonu drove over from a ruck near the tryline.

Earning a rare start, halfback Piri Weepu's best moment in a fine game came when created the next try, pouncing on a loose ball and stepping between props CJ van der Linde and Gurthro Steenkamp before sending Muliaina on an unimpeded 50m dash to the line.

Carter missed both conversions but landed a penalty on the half hour before the visitors crossed for their only try of the two tests via Rossouw. He burrowed over after a scything break from winger Jean de Villiers.

A Morne Steyn penalty pushed the Springboks to within three points but New Zealand scored the next 18 points, firstly via winger Rene Ranger and a long-range penalty from Weepu. Ranger, who had an erratic first test start, did well to ground the ball in the left corner in the tackle of replacement Springboks

The All Blacks then withstood a sustained period of pressure before sealing the result 15 minutes from time through a superb try to replacement winger Israel Dagg. He beat three defenders, slicing through flankers Schalk Burger and Francois Louw before swerving around fullback Zane Kirchner.

Burger had the final say, charging over in the dying stages but he and his team couldn't hide their disappointment.

The bedraggled `Boks play Australia in Brisbane next weekend while the All Blacks get their first shot at the Wallabies in Melbourne a week later.

- NZPA