Centurion Savea hails 'gutsy' show

All Blacks hold off Springboks before crucial rematch as Rugby Championship title race builds up

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AUCKLAND - New Zealand scored two early tries and kept an error-prone South Africa at bay to win a "gutsy" arm-wrestle 24-17 on Sept 6 and stay top of the Rugby Championship.

All Blacks back-rower Ardie Savea won a decisive turnover in the dying minutes of his 100th Test to halt a late attack and ensure New Zealand extended their unbeaten streak in Auckland to 51 matches.

Slippery conditions meant the contest between the world's two top-ranked sides never shone as a spectacle, but there was no shortage of physicality. "It was a gutsy performance. I'm just proud of the boys' efforts, we knew the Springboks were going to come here and give it to us," said Savea.

The reigning four-time world champions were desperate to end New Zealand's remarkable record at Eden Park, where the hosts have not lost since 1994.

However, the visitors paid a high price for a slew of handling errors in a match they dominated in terms of territory and possession, scoring two tries to the home side's three.