New Zealand edge South Africa to reach fourth World Cup final

New Zealand recovered from a 12-7 half-time deficit to fight back and reach their fourth Rugby World Cup final, beating arch-rivals South Africa 20-18 in a tense affair at Twickenham.

Handre Pollard had given the Springboks and early penalty lead but New Zealand responded with a well-worked try, Richie McCaw offloading for Jerome Kaino to finish off in the corner.

But Pollard punished a series of uncharacteristic penalties against New Zealand to put the Boks up at the break.

New Zealand looked to have stolen the initiative as a Dan Carter drop goal and penalty and Beauden Barrett try put them 17-12 ahead.

But South Africa refused to buckle and a further brace of penalties, one to Pollard and another to sub Pat Lambie kept the Springboks interested right until the final whistle.

Victory for the All Blacks means they will now play either Australia or Argentina in next Saturday’s showpiece final, with South Africa to face the losers of Sunday’s second semi-final in Friday’s Bronze final.

Capping a fine performance with two conversions, a penalty ad a drop goal, Dan Carter (172) overtook Grant Fox (170) as New Zealand’s all-time leading points scorer in World Cup history.

Character from Boks almost punishes All Blacks indiscipline. New Zealand conceded nine penalties in the first half, their average for a normal match. But even with uncharacteristic indiscipline, champion quality shone through in the end.

[MATCHCAST: Full scoring summary and live commentary]

6’ – NEW ZEALAND 7-3 SOUTH AFRICA – TRY: McCaw offloads to Kaino ion the right wing and he brushed off De Jager before diving over. Carter adds the extras.

11’ – NEW ZEALAND 7-6 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: McCaw caught offside and Pollard pulls South Africa to within a point.

21’ – NEW ZEALAND 7-9 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: New Zealand again penalised and Pollard puts the Boks ahead.

39’ – NEW ZEALAND 7-12 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: Kaino chipping the ball out in an offside position and he goes into the bin. Pollard adds the extras as South Africa extend their lead at the break.

45’ – NEW ZEALAND 10-12 SOUTH AFRICA – DROP GOAL: A lovely piece of opportunism from Dan Carter cuts the gap.

52’ – NEW ZEALAND 17-12 SOUTH AFRICA – TRY: Simple stuff as the Boks defence is sucked in and it’s spread wide left. Nonu feeds Barrett and the sub scores in the corner. Also a yellow card for Bryan Habana. Carter adds the extras.

58’ – NEW ZEALAND 17-15 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: Pollard hauls South Africa back after a huge scrum forces the penalty.

60’ – NEW ZEALAND 20-15 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: Etzebeth infringes and Carter adds the three.

69’ – NEW ZEALAND 20-18 SOUTH AFRICA – PENALTY: Read penalised for in at the side and Lambie puts South Africa in with a late shout.