South Africa 23 New Zealand 30
The assault on Irish referee Dave McHugh marred what was otherwise a thrilling Tri-Nations encounter between South Africa and New Zealand this afternoon.
The All Blacks eventually triumphed 30-23 but not until McHugh had been helped from the field early in the second half after a man wearing a Springbok shirt got through security and wrestled the Irishman to the ground, dislocating his shoulder.
The victory puts New Zealand five points clear of their arch-rivals Australia, who must win and score at least four tries next weekend to keep their Tri-Nations hopes alive.
Neil de Kock and Andre Pretorius scored the Springbok tries and in reply Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett and Aaron Mauger all touched down for the All Blacks with McHugh also awarding a penalty try during the first half.
Pretorius added two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal to tally 16 points, while opposite number Andrew Mehrtens had a slightly less successful day with the boot kicking two conversions and two penalties.
Match Details
South Africa 23 New Zealand 30
H-t: 17-17
Scorers
South Africa: Tries - Neil de Kock, Andre Pretorius. Conversions - Pretorius (2). Penalties - Pretorius (2). Drop goal - Pretorius.
New Zealand: Tries - Leon Macdonald, penalty try, Doug Howlett, Aaron Mauger. Conversions - Andrew Mehrtens (2). Penalties - Mehrtens (2)
South Africa: Werner Greeff; Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Dean Hall; Andre Pretorius, Neil de Kock; Bobby Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (capt); AJ Venter, Jannes Labuschagne; Willie Meyer, James Dalton, Lawrence Sephaka
Replacements used: Ollie le Roux, Faan Rautenbach, Victor Matfield, Hendro Scholtz, Johannes Conradie, Brent Russell
Replacement not used: Adrian Jacobs
All Blacks: Leon Macdonald; Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph; Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall; Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne (capt); Simon Maling, Chris Jack; Greg Somerville, Tom Willis, Dave Hewett
Replacements used: Mark Hammett, Sam Broomhall, Byron Kelleher, Daryl Gibson
Replacements not used: Joe McDonnell, Marty Holah, Jonah Lomu
Referee: David McHugh (Irl)
Touch judges: Chris White (Eng), Alan Rolland (Irl)
- McHugh replaced by White in second half
Attendance: 45,000
