London –South Africa bowed out of the 2015 RWC as their predictable, one-dimensional playing patterns was thwarted by New Zealand who ran out deserving 20-18 winners in their semifinal clash at Twickenham on Saturday evening, after trailing 12-7 at halftime.
The result means that New Zealand will next week return to Twickenham to defend their RWC championship crown which they won in the 2011 final against France on New Zealand soil, in Auckland.
Straight from the kick-off, the Boks traded heavily on a confrontational approach for early impetus in the opposition half and All Black eighthman Kieron Reid infringed at a maul.
Bok pivot Handre Pollard rifled a second-minute penalty through the uprights for a 3-0 lead. The All Blacks responded three minutes later with a try by flanker Jerome Kaino who managed to slip a desperate cover tackle by Bok lock Lood de Jager close to the corner flag.
All Blacks flyhalf managed the conversion after a second attempt because Bok winger Bryan Habana was adjudged made a charge down attempt prematurely (7-3).
The Boks narrowed the gap in the ninth minute when All Black loosie Richie McCaw was ruled offside and Pollard's strike made for a 7-6 scoreline.
The All Blacks, enjoying a surfeit possession, were all too often running into cul-de-sacs of green shirts and they resorted to a string of grubber kicks in an attempt to unlock the stubborn Boks defence, who had missed at least five tackles after 30 minutes' play.
The surge of inspiration on defence was further complemented by the Boks bossing the gain line battle where Bok flanker Francois Louw was terrorising the breakdown.
He left the field briefly for a blood bin and was replaced by Willem Alberts. The shift of momentum South Africa's way saw New Zealand buckle under the pressure for a while, and referee Frenchman Jerome Garces picked up their infringements which Pollard punished with two successful penalties (9-7).
The Boks had a moment of good fortune in the 31st minute when Carter struck the uprights with a penalty attempt. Carter's opposite number Pollard was having a good day with the boot and just ahead of the halftime break he pushed out the lead to five points with a fourth penalty after the All Black were reduced to 14 players when Kaino was yellow-carded (12-7).
Despite, the numerical disadvantage the All Blacks closed the gap soon after the break courtesy of a Carter drop-goal (12-10).
A few substitutions in the All Blacks line-up produced the impact as they finally cracked the Bok defence when substitute winger Beauden Barrett streaked in at the corner for a converted try (17-12).
It turned out to a double set-back for the Boks as Habana was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-down but in his absence his teammates dug deep to keep the All Blacks at bay.
Two brilliant scrums by the Boks just ahead of the hour mark earned them a penalty which Pollard converted but the score advance was blanked out a Carter penalty two minutes to keep the All Blacks' five-point lead intact (20-15).
The Boks enjoyed a passage of play when they had several chances to fashion scoring opportunities but a decided lack of creativity saw the All Blacks check their advance with a string of solid first-time tackles.
A 68th-minute penalty by replacement flyhalf Patrick Lambie offered the Springboks a glimmer of hope as the All Black lead was shrunk to a mere two points (20-18).
The advance seemed to inject a fresh sense of urgency in the Bok ranks and a Lambie kick-ahead brought the 80 000-strong crowd to their feet as JP Pietersen looked to be winning the race for a touchdown but the ball bounced into touch.
The Boks won a line-out in the 71st minute but then they overdid the maul and surrendered a crucial turnover which helped the All Blacks to relieve the pressure, and run out 20-18 winners at the end.
Scorers: New Zealand 20 (7): Tries: Jerome Kaino, Beauden Barrett. Conversions: Dan Carter (2). Penalties: Carter. Drop goal: Carter South Africa 18 (12): Penalties: Handre Pollard (5), Patrick Lambie. - ANA