OPINION: Wow, that was everything we hoped for from last week's 100th All Blacks v Springboks test - except an All Blacks win.
The reigning world champions showed they didn't need to play negative rugby to prevail 31-29, dominating lineouts and breakdowns - especially over the second half - to reclaim a little of their lustre, after three straight defeats.
For New Zealand, previous matchwinner Jordie Barrett could not have done any more, converting two clutch penalties in the final minutes that should have stolen victory.
Captain Ardie Savea was a dynamo for 80 minutes and certainly deserved more than losing his 100 percent winning record in charge, but hard to deprive South Africa their moment of redemption.
Two classic encounters between rugby's two powerhouses, both decided by last-minute penalties - simply breathtaking.
All Blacks player ratings against South Africa were:
Joe Moody 6
Anchored a solid scrum and made eight tackles, but knocked on to end a promising All Blacks attack in the first half.
Replaced by George Bower in the 58th minute.
Codie Taylor 6
Contributed to the lineout wobbles, but was on target with a long throw to Akira Ioane to spark Ardie Savea's try and led the tackle count (with Savea) with 11.
Replaced by Asofa Aumua in the 58th minute.
Nepo Laulala 6
With Moody, provided a solid scrum foundation, but made little impact with ball in hand - four runs, zero metres.
Conceded an offside penalty that cost three points, before he was replaced by Ofa Tuungafasi in the 58th minute.
Brodie Retallick 6
A non-factor a lineout time and in the loose, and conceded a ruck penalty. Not up to his usual high standards.
Scott Barrett 6
Hampered by an early shoulder stinger and conceded two penalties that gifted South Africa six first-half points, but stole a lineout that resulted in Brad Weber's try.
Replaced by Patrick Tuipulotu at halftime.
Akira Ioane 5
Another game that didn't suit his style, but lacked accuracy at times. Conceded an offside penalty that turned into three points and missed a tackle on Mbonambi that almost resulted in a try.
Saved his performance with the lineout win in Savea's try.
Ardie Savea 9
Captain Fantastic was everywhere for the full 80 minutes, running hard, making so many big tackles, stealing breakdown ball and lineouts and scoring a classic All Blacks try.
Shame to lose his 100 percent captaincy record and perhaps a couple of game-management decisions let him down, but that's nit-picking in the wider context.
Luke Jacobson 6
Returned to the starting line-up, after dropping out late last week through illness. Was barely sighted in the loose, but was his team's leading tackler (with Taylor), when he left the game.
Replaced by Ethan Blackadder in the 51st minute.
Brad Weber 8
Services was a distinct upgrade on TJ Perenara's seven days earlier, giving Beauden Barrett time to weave his magic. Threw himself into tackles against much bigger men and stole a cheeky halfback try off the South African lineout.
May have jumped up the selection pecking order, before he was replaced by Perenara in the 58th minute.
Beauden Barrett 8
With more room to move, was back near his best in the first half, kicking to good effect, both tactically and for territory. Cross-kicked expertly for Sevu Reece's try, made the trysaving tackle on Mbonambi and broke the South African defence for Savea's try.
Saw fewer opportunities in the second half, before being replaced by Richie Mo'unga in the 66th minute.
Rieko Ioane 7
Enjoyed more opportunities on the wing this week and also went looking for work, chasing high kicks and often wrapping up the catcher. Provided an offload in a dangerous All Blacks raid and the assist on Savea's try.
Wasn't peppered with high kicks, like last week's back three, but still dropped one.
David Havili 6
Again saw little room to run against the rushing South African defence, but tackled strongly all night. Spilt a pass that gifted Allende his try, but also found Anton Lienert-Brown with a pass that almost put him over in the corner.
Replaced by Damian McKenzie in the 66th minute.
Anton Lienert-Brown 6
Like the other All Blacks midfielders, struggled to make headway against strong defence, but made his tackles and almost scored in the corner in the move that resulted in Weber's try.
Sevu Reece 7
Wasn't required to face an aerial bombardment, but handled whatever came his way, including a bone-crunching impact from 'Boks captain Siya Kolisi. Showed his psychic link with Barrett and showed his deceptive strength to snare another try in the corner.
Jordie Barrett 9
Has surely nailed down the fullback jersey for the forseeable future, with another courageous display. Safest under the high ball, he made the break that resulted in Weber's try and was unlucky to have an offload to Akira Ioane called forward.
Missed only two sideline conversions and kicked two late penalties that should have been matchwinners - again. Even emerged as New Zealand's best source of kickoff wins.
Reserves:
Asafo Aumua 4
Replaced Taylor in the 58th minute. Contributed to the All Blacks' lineout collapse and conceded a costly penalty in the final seconds that put his team on the backfoot.
George Bower 5
Replaced Moody in the 58th minute.
Ofa Tuungafasi 5
Replaced Laulala in the 58th minute.
Patrick Tuipulotu 5
Replaced Scott Barrett at halftime, but barely featured.
Ethan Blackadder 7
Replaced Jacobson in the 51st minute, but made nine tackles and won a couple of lineouts in his limited time onfield.
TJ Perenara 5
Replaced Weber in the 58th minute.
Richie Mo'unga 5
Replaced Beauden Barrett in the 66th minute, but had no room to move from the South African defence.
Damian McKenzie 5
Replaced Havili in the 66th minute, just enough time for another bug-on-the-windscreen moment, when bumped off by a rampaging Vermeulen.
Grant Chapman is Newshub online sports lead. Join us on October 24 for live updates of the All Blacks v USA
