Assault on referee casts shadow over thrilling All Black success

South Africa 23 New Zealand 3

David McHugh, the Irish referee, suffered a dislocated shoulder when he was attacked by a burly spectator wearing a Springbok jersey shortly after half-time in yesterday's Tri-Nations match at King's Park here.

The man ran on to the pitch when the score stood at 17-17 and wrestled McHugh to the ground. The New Zealand players Scott Robertson and Richard McCaw intervened, and the interloper was led away nursing a bloody nose.

McHugh, who had earlier disallowed a try by the South African wing Breyton Paulse and awarded a penalty try to New Zealand, was treated by doctors before leaving the field in a golf cart and handing over the whistle to the English touch judge Chris White.

The assault marred an otherwise thrilling encounter in which the All Blacks saw off their hosts 30-23. The result put New Zealand five points clear of Australia, who must win by 26 points and score at least four tries in their final Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday if they are to lift the title.

Neil de Kock and Andre Pretorius ran in the Springbok tries while in reply Leon MacDonald and Doug Howlett touched down for the All Blacks to augment the disputed penalty try.

Pretorius boosted his total to 18 points with two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal while his opposite number, Andrew Mehrtens, equalling John Kirwan's New Zealand record of 63 caps, had a less successful day with the boot, kicking two conversions and two penalties. The score was tied at 23-23 deep into injury time when the centre Aaron Mauger rounded off a swift counter-attack with the try which sealed New Zealand's victory.

"That was the toughest match I've ever played," said the All Blacks' captain Reuben Thorne. "Games against South Africa are always tough, but it took a big effort to beat them at home."

Rudolf Straeuli, South Africa's coach, said: "The All Blacks are a truly great side, and deserve our respect and congratulations. We didn't take our chances, and that will always make us lose a match."

South Africa: W Greeff; B Paulse, M Joubert, D W Barry, D Hall; A Pretorius, N de Kock; L Sephaka (O le Roux, 69), J Dalton, W Meyer (F Rautenbach, 69), J Labuschagne, A J Venter (V Matfield, 79), C Krige (capt; H Scholtz, 79)), B Skinstad, J van Niekerk.

New Zealand: L MacDonald (D Gibson, 74); D Howlett, T Umaga, A Mauger, C Ralph; A Mehrtens, J Marshall (B Kelleher, 78); D Hewett, T Willis (M Hammett, 69), G Somerville, C Jack, S Maling, R Thorne (capt), S Robertson, R McCaw.

Referee: D McHugh (Ireland; C White (England), 42).