MATCH REVIEW - THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
Black Sunday, Black Thursday, Black Home!

Thu, 4 Nov 1999 22:37 GMT

If New Zealand's spirit was crushed by their semifinal defeat to France, it was all but decimated on Thursday night when archrivals South Africa beat them 22-18 in the playoff for the World Cup's third and fourth place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The defeat could be the death knell for Taine Randell's, while coach John Hart's contract with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union is now even more unlikely to be renewed.

A Breyton Paulse try after 27 minutes, borne out of the electrifying wing's own 22, ultimately stood between the two sides.

With the teams deadlocked 6-6, Paulse countered by chipping over the New Zealand defence, then hacked the ball ahead twice before gathering and scoring.

Significantly, South Africa played Paulse on the left wing to prevent him from playing opposite giant All Black wide man Jonah Lomu.

And with South Africa showing a greater willingness to keep the ball in hand, the likes of Paulse and outside centre Robbie Fleck came into their own on the attack.

There were plenty of handling errors from the South Africans as well, but New Zealand especially would have been baffled by their poor control of the ball.

But credit should also go to the Springboks, who were tenacious defenders and completely shut out the star-studded All Black backline of Lomu, Christian Cullen and Jeff Wilson.

It was a typical dogged performance from a workmanlike defence that leaked only two tries during their entire World Cup campaign, both of which came in their opening match against Scotland.

Other than Paulse's try the points all came from kicks, with Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery sealing matters with a 78th minute drop goal after South Africa had set up camp in the All Black half with just one point separating the sides.

Flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens scored all New Zealand's points through six penalties, while South Africa's other points came from an early Montgomery drop goal and a conversion and three penalties by flyhalf Henry Honiball.

A victory over the All Blacks was a fitting farewell for Honiball, who in his 35th and final Test for South Africa cut an influential figure.

His appearance in the match was made possible after Jannie de Beer stood down. Armed with the confidence which France's 43-31 semifinal win over New Zealand inspired, South Africa showed a willingness to mix some telling attacking surges into their percentage game.

Fleck, who has grown in stature as an international centre at this World Cup, made some telling runs from broken play, while there can be no excuse for the future, or even prior, exclusion of Paulse.

He may not be a giant on defence, but his performance on Thursday night bristled with confidence and class.

Up front it was a case of better late than never as Andre Vos brought some clout to the Springbok Number Eight berth in which Bobby Skinstad consistently under-achieved throughout the tournament, while the battle of the tight fives was a 50-50 affair.

While the Springboks were full value for their victory, New Zealand were left to rue not making a three-man overlap late in the first half count, while replacement back Pita Alatini also knocked on a straightforward pass during an attack in the dying seconds.

The win brought some consolation to South Africa who were extra time losers in an epic semifinal against Australia.

New Zealand, however, have been left to face the wrath of their public on their return home.

Scorers

South Africa: Try by Breyton Paulse. Conversion: Henry Honiball. Penalties: Honiball (3). Drop goals: Percy Montgomery (2).

New Zealand: Penalties: Andrew Mehrtens (6).

Hero:
Breyton Paulse (South Africa). He had the confidence to counter, chip the New Zealand defence and turn on the gas to score the only try of the match. He played out of position on the left wing, but he was far more influential than the injured Pieter Rossouw and must be South Africa's first choice in the position next year.

Villain:
Pita Alatini (New Zealand). The All Blacks went for one desperate surge at the Springbok line in the dying seconds, only for the Otago man to knock the ball on. He'll have better days in an All Black jersey, though, and is certainly a name for the future.

Champagne moment:
Paulse's try which led to a 13-6 lead for South Africa. From then on they were always in the driver's seat.

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