New Zealand 29 South Africa 15 Emotions ran high when Carter failed to rise from the turf following Du Plessis' 16th-minute challenge. French referee Romain Poite deemed it a shoulder charge, with replays of the incident supporting claims of a fair tackle. The ensuing scuffle that involved almost every player on the field seemed to spark something in the All Blacks. The increase in energy was personified by replacement Beauden Barrett, whose scintillating burst through the line took the All Blacks inside the attacking 22. Scanning across to the left, Conrad Smith found space which allowed him to set lock Brodie Retallick away to score under the posts. Du Plessis dotted down from a maul after a kickable penalty was turned down as the first half finished with New Zealand 17-10 ahead. However, South African shoulders dropped when Du Plessis' interest in the contest ended when he led with his elbow into the tackle of Messam. His second yellow card - and automatic red - was then compounded by Read's second five-pointer under the posts. Down to 14 men for the remaining 39 minutes of the match, it was hard not to feel a little sympathy for the Springboks, winless in Auckland since 1937. In some ways, the playing field was evened out when Read and Ma'a Nonu were sin-binned in quick succession, reducing the All Blacks to 13 men for the last seven minutes. While Messam was able to recover from the blow he took from Du Plessis' elbow, Steve Hansen will sweat over the fitness of full-back Israel Dagg, who was replaced by Charles Piutau at half-time after his knee clashed with winger Bryan Habana. The stand-in skipper came close to notching an impressive hat-trick before his hands failed him when he attempted to ground Julian Savea's grubber. By then the South Africans were firmly on the back foot and Sam Cane muscled his way across the line for a well-deserved try in the final quarter, before replacement Patrick Lambie crossed in the left corner for the visitors.