World media hail All Blacks' killer instincts as they hang tough to beat Boks

It was labelled an "ugly win" but the All Blacks' killer instincts weren't lost on the global media as they covered off New Zealand's dogged World Cup semifinal victory over South Africa.

Having lapped up the scintillating try-scoring spree against France last week, the media found praise for the All Blacks' ability to eke out a win in contrasting circumstances at Twickenham.

"It was typical of the British weather to arrive after the European teams had been knocked out of the World Cup," The Guardian's Paul Rees noted.

"The result was a hard, uncompromising wrestling bout that was more Six Nations than Rugby Championship, the holders finding a way of winning ugly and keeping alive their ambition of becoming the first side to retain the trophy."

DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES

All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith gets the ball away during Sunday's gritty 20-18 Rugby World Cup semifinal win over the Springboks in London.

Rees praised the way the All Blacks had solved their first half problems to fight their way back into the game and eventually the final.

Stable mate Dan Lucas' conclusion was similar: "New Zealand claimed a hard-fought, tense, but deserved win. The key period was at the start of the second half, when Carter slotted a cool drop-goal to reduce South Africa's lead in spite of their man advantage, before Barrett crossed for the second, ultimately match-winning try," he wrote to sum up The Guardian's live coverage of the match.

"South Africa deserve credit for a big defensive performance, winning the battles of the scrum and breakdown largely thanks to their immense power. But they brought little else to the match, in truth, and didn't deserve it."

The Independent described the clash as "a tight and nervy affair" with New Zealand holding their composure.

The Telegraph labelled the match "tight, gruelling and engrossing", befitting the greatest rivalry in the sport.

They were impressed by the All Blacks' continued ability to "turn the screws when it matters most".

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Dan Carter's left boot was hugely influential in the World Cup semifinal win over the Springboks in London.

"New Zealand once again showed their ability to raise their game and maintain their composure just when their opponents should have been able to go in for the kill by actually reducing their deficit while Jerome Kano was in the sin bin.

"In fact it was the All Blacks who dominated those 10 minutes, with Dan Carter landing a sweetly-struck dropped goal to cut the deficit to two points.

"The psychological edge it gave the All Blacks inflicted serious damage to the Springboks, and it was little surprise that New Zealand were able to take the lead moments after Kano's return when Beauden Barrett crossed for a try. Dan Carter's conversion ensured there had been a critical 10-point swing in a contest of such small margins."

But The Telegraph noted there were problems for both sides in a match of huge intensity.

"The ending summed up the match. South Africa desperately attempted to run the ball from their own line, predictable and physical, bashing into contact at every opportunity, but lashing out at the reality, just as they had been throughout the match. There was no way through. Eventually a knock-on came and New Zealand were through to the Rugby World Cup final.

"The favourites and reigning champions had, though, been seriously rattled by the South Africans, whose physicality at the breakdown, powerful driving maul and scrummage had caused huge problems."

The Times reported that the All Blacks' victory was delivered on the back of "a commanding second half performance".

"South Africa did not have enough field position to build any consistent pressure and they wasted two attacking opportunities as New Zealand closed out the game expertly at the death," The Times said.

They also noted how close the game was and pointed out a crucial moment that ultimately proved hugely costly.

"The difference on the scoreboard was the re-taken conversion that Dan Carter was granted after Bryan Habana had prematurely charged him down as he lined up the kick following Jerome Kaino's try. Carter missed the first effort but landed the second."

Respected South African rugby writer Gavin Rich was generous in defeat.

"The All Blacks overcame the levelling effect of the wet weather and a determined Springbok defensive effort to take what looked like an inexorable step towards a third World Cup title," Rich wrote for Supersport.com.

"Make no mistake, the New Zealanders deserved to win. They scored two tries to nil, they won virtually all the statistical counts that are meaningful with the exception of the penalties, and camped for most of the match deep in South African territory. They also won the big points, and four crucial steals at lineout time helped them prevent the Boks from exerting the sustained pressure that was needed.

"However, the jubilation and clear sense of relief with which the All Blacks greeted the final whistle told the story of how nervous the Boks made them when they simply refused to go away and were still in with a chance of winning the game in the final five minutes."

South African website Sport24 lamented the Springboks' lack of flair.

"It was a nail-biting encounter contested in wet conditions, but two tries from the Kiwis proved the difference in an intensely physical encounter. The All Blacks deserve plaudits for taking the game to the Boks, and in the end made 398m on attack compared to a meagre 146m from South Africa," noted writer Herman Mostert.

"As predicted, the Boks stood up physically, but their lack of invention on attack ultimately again proved their undoing."

The Australian media, waiting to see if the Wallabies can get past the Pumas in Monday's semifinal to join the All Blacks in the title match, lauded the tight Twickenham affair.

"The hype around this first World Cup matchup in 12 years between the teams that have combined to win four titles was exceeded as they wrestled in an atmosphere thick with tension," Fox Sports reported.

"Despite both teams enjoying advantages in key areas, they managed to cancel out each other's edge.

"The All Blacks enjoyed a majority of possession and territory, but the Springboks tackled to a standstill.

"The All Blacks scored two tries, but their ill-discipline gave the Springboks six kicked penalties.

"The All Blacks stole four lineouts, but the Springboks earned a scrum tight-head and vital scrum penalties."

The Sydney Morning Herald felt "New Zealand pushed through one of their sloppier first half performances and a halftime deficit to take the match.

"The usually clinical All Blacks gave away penalty after penalty.

"But it was a battle of two rugby heavyweights, despite the errors, and the winner of the second semifinal will have no easy task preparing to stop Steve Hansen's experienced side."

 - Stuff