KEY POINTS:
Statistically speaking, one team dominated this Tri-Nations test. They lorded it in the territory battle 66-34 per cent, had a near 60-40 per cent possession advantage and the other team had to make a stunning 205 tackles to survive, against just 89.
All those stats were in the All Blacks' favour. So how on earth did they end up losing to the Springboks?
New Zealand were reminded of the priceless value of experience on Saturday night. For once, it was the Boks who held sway and they made it tell. But then, how could you compare the two caps of Anthony Boric and Kevin O'Neill combined, with the 123 of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha?
Matfield was a colossus. He rubbished his own post-Wellington assessment that he needed two or three more games at this level to be at his best after his French sojourn. He ruled the lineouts, foraged hard in the loose, tidied up, urged, cajoled and inspired.
Yet the fact that the Springboks, the world champions, still only got home by two points, hanging on at the end of a 58-point ball game, told you other things. All Black sides, whatever the personnel, possess an intrinsic hunger and belief. Even when the cupboard had been emptied, others stepped up and so nearly defied the intimidating odds. Had one of those two late drop goal attempts by Dan Carter succeeded, New Zealand would have prevailed. In the circumstances, it would have been miraculous.
But the devil was in the detail. The South Africans had to make 205 tackles to survive but then, defending efficiently and putting their bodies on the line is nothing new to them.
The way to beat them is by going around, not through them. There was too little innovation by the All Blacks, too much formulaic stuff. In part, that's because Andy Ellis lacks Byron Kelleher's physicality and ability to punch holes and Ma'a Nonu is yet to acquire the subtlety and vision of Aaron Mauger at Carter's shoulder. The All Blacks are easier to defend against now than 12 months ago.
But who can be surprised at that? With the loss of such personnel, especially the enforcer Brad Thorn up front, that was inevitable. His absence made life so much harder for the New Zealand front row at scrum time.
Given that this is a new All Black team in the making, it was remarkable they got as close as they did to the hugely experienced South Africans. 355 caps against 606, counts in anyone's language. Patience and time are needed to build this side. But one quality is there already - spirit. It drove them to ignore the difficulties and it was so nearly enough.
As for the Springboks, this victory should be the route marker for their whole journey. They are still evolving, still adapting to their new coach. But of all the test-playing nations circa 2008, they possess the greatest resources, the biggest playing pool and the talent in depth.
Given that, it is incumbent on them to pick up the baton of world leaders, carried for so long by New Zealand. If they can expand their game and become as successful in an offensive sense as they clearly are defensively, they can lead world rugby.
But they must know periods of New Zealand vulnerability are rare. This is one and to take full advantage the Springboks must show their maturity and move significantly forward.
* Peter Bills is a rugby writer for Independent News & Media in London.
