Krige threatened legal action and then stated how much of a relief it was to be in New Zealand, where the people understood the meaning of “tough rugby”.

His Springboks side certainly made life difficult for New Zealand on Saturday, heaping on the pressure to successfully restrict the home side’s flying backs to just three line breaks in the whole game.

Although the All Blacks eventually won the match and the Tri-Nations title, it was down to the impeccable kicking of Carlos Spencer rather than the devastating back-line.

But it is because of the flair the All Blacks showed in running up 102 points in their two away games, rather than their below-par showing on Saturday, that Krige is backing New Zealand to regain the Bledisloe Cup.

“After what happened last week, I think you know who we might be cheering for,” he said.

“I think the All Blacks have shown in this tournament by winning two games away from home by such big margins that they do deserve to take the honour of the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe.

“But Australia are shrewd, they have had the better of New Zealand over the last few years in Bledisloe Cup.

“So New Zealand will have to just keep their heads together and have a good week.”

New Zealand have to win next week’s Test against Australia to regain the Bledisloe Cup, and until South Africa gave the All Blacks such a scare, former Wallaby Nick Farr-Jones felt they had “one

hand and four fingers” on the trophy.

Now he is not so certain.

New Zealand coach John Mitchell did make five changes to his pack for the game but left the back-line intact and it was the Springboks’ in-yer-face defence that kept them under wraps.

The All Blacks faced a similar game-plan against England and were on the wrong side of the scoreline that night, largely because Spencer did not enjoy such a good night with the boot.

But after two such rampaging wins, Mitchell felt to come through a test like South Africa presented was ideal in the lead-up to the World Cup.

“It was very good in parts but at times we were under pressure and I thought we remained composed very well,” he said.

“It was always going to be a grind. I thought it was outstanding for the team to experience that contest.”

Mitchell added that he was “full of respect” for the Springboks, who have still never won a Test in Dunedin’s ‘House of Pain’.

They remained in touch throughout, but Louis Koen was off-form with the boot and it proved crucial.

He missed the conversion to Richard Bands’ stunning try, leaving New Zealand 7-5 up after Joe Rokocoko had scored his 11th in just six Tests five minutes into the game.

Koen only managed two penalties, missing with two other attempts and three drop-goal shots, while Spencer was successful with all four penalties and the conversion.

Both sides complained of having to play the game on a bitterly cold winter night, particularly when the conditions during the day had been perfect.

New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall and Koen both stated that the conditions contributed to a much more conservative approach that denied the spectators the kind of spectacle they might have anticipated.

But New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller said the situation is unlikely to change, at least until 2006, because of an agreement with broadcasters News Ltd.

Afternoon kick-offs in New Zealand could lead to a multi-million dollar revenue loss because viewers in South Africa and Europe would be forced to watch games in the early hours, rather than at breakfast time.