All Blacks closer to Championship title after thrasing Springboks
New Zealand hammered the Springbox 41-13, thanks to a Ardie Savea’s a colossal try and took another step towards holding yet another Rugby Championship title, in Christchurch on Saturday.
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The All Blacks will win the series unless Argentina secure a bonus-point victory in Australia later on Saturday.
New Zealand have made a habit of starting slowly before impressing in the second half throughout the tournament, as they seek to reclaim the title from last year's winners Australia.
The runaway competition leaders again banked a bonus point, their fourth in four matches, to be in an almost unbeatable position in the championship with two rounds still to play.
But in the replay of last year's World Cup semi-final at Twickenham, which the All Blacks won 20-18, they again struggled to get on top in another gripping encounter between two of rugby's fiercest rivals.
The hosts only had a 15-10 lead at half-time as they struggled to get any flow and turned the ball over just when they appeared to have stretched the visitors to breaking point, but kicked away with four second-half tries.
While Barrett kicked a ninth-minute penalty to score the first points for the All Blacks, the visitors got on board when Habana ran a superb angle and was put into space by Warren Whiteley 10 minutes later.
Savea, starting a Test for the first time, then carried two Springboks on his back as he charged over for a try of his own and after 56 minutes, with the All Blacks ahead 29-13, the outcome was obvious.
The win extended the All Blacks unbeaten streak to 15 as they close in on the record of 17 consecutive wins for a tier one nation which they currently share with South Africa.
It also extended their unbeaten home run to 44 dating back to 2009 when South Africa were the last visiting team to win a Test in New Zealand with a 32-29 victory in Hamilton.
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