An ill-disciplined first-half display from New Zealand has allowed South Africa to earn a 12-7 lead in the World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.
A below-par start included a couple of errors when the ball was loose, and it was the Springboks who got on the board first when Handre Pollard split the posts with a penalty in just the third minute.
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New Zealand recovered swiftly to take charge of the game after starting a move with a quick lineout, and Richie McCaw picked the right pass at the perfect time to find Jerome Kaino, who eased past one challenge close to the touchline to slide over.
After Bryan Habana had sprinted out too early in an attempt to put off Dan Carter, the New Zealand used a second opportunity to add a conversion, before Pollard hit back with another penalty to reduce the deficit.
A fine Habana catch from a lobbed kick stretched the All Blacks, and when another penalty followed - New Zealand conceded six in the opening 22 minutes - Pollard kept his composure once again to edge South Africa in front.
Despite the errors, New Zealand enjoyed long spells with the ball but a stubborn defensive line from South Africa made space difficult to come by, before Carter summed up the frustration by striking a post with a penalty.
South Africa looked to be on course for their first try when JP Pietersen intercepted a pass with a clear path in front of him, but with play initially brought back for a New Zealand penalty, the Springboks were left disappointed when the TMO handed the decision to them after a neck roll from Brodie Retallick.
They were rewarded for persistence in defence, with Kaino's decision to kick a grounded ball while offside earning him 10 minutes in the sin-bin and handing Pollard the chance to extend the lead with his fourth penalty just before the interval.
Callum Mulvihill
