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WELLINGTON : The All Blacks reclaimed rugby supremacy Saturday when they overpowered world champions South Africa 19-8 in an immensely physical opening Tri-Nations Test here.
The All Blacks extended their world record unbeaten run of home victories to 30 and won back much of the respect they lost at home following their shock early exit from last year's World Cup.
In the process they brought a 14-game winning streak by the Springboks to an abrupt and brutal halt.
With forecasted strong winds holding off until the dying stages and the chilly rain disappearing for the second half, both sides scored one try with Dan Carter landing four penalties for the All Blacks to one by Springbok flyhalf Butch James.
In a titanic battle, which threatened to explode when an all-in brawl erupted after only five minutes, the All Blacks' largely new-look pack humbled the vastly experienced South African eight.
They rolled them back in the scrums and Rodney So'oialo, Jerome Kaino and Adam Thompson enjoyed an edge over Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith and Schalk Burger in the murky battle for the loose ball in the bruising rucks and mauls.
All Blacks lock Ali Williams, playing his 50th Test, showed no sign of the ankle injury which had him as a doubt for the match earlier in the week.
The Test debut for rugby's Experimental Law Variations produced a fast-paced encounter with the All Blacks mixing backline variations with raking kicks by Carter to tire the heavier Springboks pack.
Carter had the All Blacks in front with a handy penalty in the third minute but James replied two minutes later with a long-range effort when Brad Thorn was penalised for lifting John Smit in the air and dumping him on the ground.
Two more Carter penalties pushed the All Blacks to a 9-3 lead before Bryan Habana raced 30 metres to score the only try of the first half to reduce the hosts' half-time lead.
The All Blacks try came soon after the resumption of play with Carter doubling around Tony Woodcock to open a gap, sending Jerome Kaino in for a try.
Carter added the conversion from wide out and landed his fourth penalty with 10 minutes remaining.
South Africa have not won in New Zealand for 10 years and will have to show a marked improvement if they are to snap that record in the second Test, to be played in Dunedin next Saturday.
- AFP /ls
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