New Zealand first five eighth Aaron Cruden kicked two late penalties as the All Blacks hung on to beat South Africa 21-11 in their Rugby Championship clash in Dunedin on Saturday night.
The All Blacks scored two tries, to fullback Israel Dagg and replacement halfback Aaron Smith, while Cruden slotted three penalties and a conversion.
Springboks winger Bryan Habana scored a brilliant individual try early in the second half to take his South African try-scoring record to 43.
Morne Steyn and his replacement Johan Goosen added a penalty each.
Mistakes and errors in handling and decision-making by both sides dominated much of the match.
Steyn and inside centre Frans Steyn combined to miss five shots at goal in the first half while Goosen missed a penalty in the second as the Springboks left a possible 20 points from kicks out on the field.
The Springboks also blew a certain try early in the match when Habana was unmarked 15 metres from the line only for the final pass to go behind him and into touch, leaving the exasperated right winger glowering at his team mates.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, did not present the ball accurately at the breakdown for the second successive week, causing problems for first Piri Weepu then Smith, while they were also guilty of hanging on to it too long and incurring the wrath of referee George Clancy.
The Springboks were reduced to 14 men deep in the second half when Dean Grayling was sinbinned for an elbow in the face of All Black captain Ritchie McCaw.
