New Zealand edge South Africa in gripping contest to seal place in Rugby World Cup final

New Zealand are through to their second successive Rugby World Cup final after they beat South Africa 20-18 ©Getty Images

Defending champions New Zealand booked their place in the final of the Rugby World Cup with an edgy 20-18 victory over a battling South Africa at Twickenham Stadium today.

In a pulsating encounter which engrossed the crowd inside the stadium, tries from Jerome Kaino and Beauden Barrett in each half, coupled with ten points from the boot of Dan Carter, proved enough to ensure the All Blacks will get the chance to retain their World Cup crown in next Saturday’s (October 31) final.

Not even the razor sharp kicking accuracy of Handre Pollard, who notched 15 points before he was withdrawn from proceedings late in the second half owing to injury, could help South Africa over the line as the Springboks fell agonisingly short.

They had led by five points at the interval and had a man advantage after Kaino was sin-binned towards the end of the opening period but the reigning champions rallied after the break, eventually proving too strong amid sodden conditions at Twickenham.

The All Blacks were, however, made to battle hard for their victory as they held a two-point advantage for the final 12 minutes, relying on their stout defence to see them through to their fourth World Cup final.

Australia clash with surprise-package Argentina in the second last four contest tomorrow for the right to meet New Zealand, who will bid to become the first side to retain the Webb Ellis trophy.

“We knew South Africa would give us a different game - and it turned out that way,” All Blacks centre Conrad Smith said.

“South Africa played really well, put us under pressure and didn't give us much.

“We had to dig deep and I'm proud of that."

The All Blacks, who have demonstrated rare inconsistency throughout the tournament, often failing to live up to their own high expectations, dominated possession but came up against a valiant South African side keen on causing an upset.

Jerome Kaino got the All Blacks opening try which set them up for a narrow win over the Springboks — Jerome Kaino got the All Blacks' opening try which set them up for a narrow win over the Springboks ©Getty Images

Though the clash was gripping in its entirety, the match itself lacked in quality as neither side managed to take a stranglehold on proceedings.

Pollard got the first score of the match to give South Africa an early lead before New Zealand hit back as Kaino powered home the opening try, with Carter adding the extras.

But two more well-executed penalties from Pollard switched the advantage back the way of the Springboks, who took advantage of Kaino being sent to the sin-bin for kicking the ball away to establish a 12-7 lead at the break.

The second half proved crucial as the pendulum quickly swung in New Zealand’s favour as Carter converted a surprise drop-goal to cut the deficit to two.

A mistake from Schalk Burger then gave the All Blacks a near-perfect opportunity to add a second try which they took with aplomb as Barrett touched down in the corner to wrestle back the advantage from 2007 champions South Africa.

Handre Pollard kicked five penalties for South Africa but his haul of 15 points proved to be in vein as his side suffered agonising semi-final heartbreak ©Getty Images

It was Bryan Habana’s turn to take an unwanted spell on the sidelines as he was sin-binned for a similar offence committed by Kaino and New Zealand were able to move 17-12 ahead.

The two kicking maestros of Carter and Pollard exchanged penalties before the latter was replaced through injury, though Pat Lombie minimalised the effect of his absence by kicking three points of his own to reduce the deficit to 20-18.

A ferocious late onslaught began to fade as South African legs became heavy and New Zealand held on.