New Zealand stand firm against South Africa in heavyweight thriller
(The Guardian Sports News)

o Springboks start and finish strongly but fall shorto Bridge and Barrett tries give All Blacks winning leadNew Zealand´s proud record of never having lost a Rugby World Cup pool game is still intact after a thrilling victory over South Africa. In one of the great World Cup pool matches, the All Blacks´s counterattacking brilliance narrowly cancelled out the Boks´ more direct and physical tactics to secure a 23-13 win their opening fixture in Japan.From 17-3 up at half-time Steve Hansen´s team had to weather a determined South African fightback but held their nerve in a breathless final quarter. The result increases the chances of England facing the All Blacks in the semi-finals should Eddie Jones´s squad finish top of Pool C and win their subsequent quarter-final. Continue reading...