Tri-Nations: New Zealand beats South Africa 31-17

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand broke South Africa's grip on the Tri-Nations rugby title when it beat the defending tournament and world champions 31-17 on Saturday. For the second straight week, the All Blacks ran four tries past the Springboks, following the 32-12 win in last weekend's first test at Auckland with a bonus-point victory. All of New Zealand's tries were scored by backs as it overwhelmed South Africa with a fast-paced and skillful 15-man game. Center Ma'a Nonu, fullback Mils Muliaina, winger Rene Ranger and his replacement Israel Dagg scored tries. Lock Danie Rossouw and flanker Schalk Burger scored tries for the Springboks. South Africa winger Jean de Villiers was suspended for two weeks for a dangerous tackle on his New Zealand opposite Rene Ranger. De Villiers appeared before judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan on Sunday after being cited over a lifting tackle in the 27th minute. The suspension will rule the winger out of next Saturday's test against Australia in Brisbane. All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said two wins from two matches against the Springboks was the best possible start for his side. "When you're playing against the world champions or when you have the two top teams in world rugby out there, that's how you test yourself," McCaw said. New Zealand scored its first two tries through Nonu and Muliaina when South Africa was reduced to 14 men between the fourth and 14th minutes of the first half by the sin-binning of Rossouw. Rossouw won his place in the Springboks' starting lineup at the expense of Bakkies Botha, who was sin-binned during the first half of last week's test at Auckland and later suspended for nine weeks for headbutting. Rossouw's ejection Saturday followed an altercation with McCaw. His absence cost South Africa dearly as Nonu crossed for a try in the sixth minute and Muliaina in the 12th to give the All Blacks an early 10-0 lead and an advantage they never relinquished. Rossouw returned from the sin-bin to score South Africa's first try in the 36th minute, cutting New Zealand's lead to 13-7 at halftime. The Springboks were more competitive at set pieces than they had been at Auckland but remained confounded by the pace of the All Blacks' game and their inability to stamp their more structured style on the match. New Zealand counterattacked well from poor Springboks kicks and from forced turnovers and spread the ball quickly through the backline. South Africa coach Peter de Villiers was "frustrated" by new refereeing interpretations which rewarded fast-paced rugby but negated his team's 10-man game. "We've played now six (tests) and in six games we've had six different types of plays on the ground," he said. "We've got the same skills as last year when we won the Tri-Nations. We're used to playing with the new interpretations in the Super 14 and now in the six games we've played the law was a bit different on the ground." De Villiers wanted clarification of how the new interpretations were being applied "because I don't like to prepare guys to cheat and it seems to me that's the only way going forward if you want to be on top of those kind of things and that's 70 percent of your game." The All Blacks' attack-at-all-costs approach was illustrated by Dagg's game-breaking try in the 64th minute. New Zealand led 21-10 but was still under some pressure when Dagg, who had been on the field only minutes as a replacement for Ranger, received the ball on the left flank and scythed through four tackles to score. —AP