Butch 'I'm gonna knock you out' James
New Zealand 19: Tries: J Kaino Cons: D Carter Pens: D Carter (4)
South Africa 8: Tries: B Habana Pens: B James
The mighty All Blacks reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings after winning the tactical battle in a compelling trench-warfare-esque Tri- Nations tussle packed with plenty of crash, bang and wallop.
New Zealand's unbeaten run at home is up to 30 Tests and with forwards playing like backs, especially from the ruthless back-row behind the siege mentality of the second-row, they sent out a clear message to the world that they aren't just try-scoring specialists.
It was a huge statement from the fresh-looking All-Blacks who washed away the misery and disappointment of the World Cup, proving once again they are the masters of the four-year cycle.
Ali Williams was awarded a "nine out of ten" from Graham Henry. Limited training time courtesy of an ankle injury this week had put the feisty lock's position in doubt but like his towering stature, Williams led from the front, bossing the set-piece and providing a constant headache at the breakdown.
The intensity and empowering physicality reached boiling point as early as the fifth minute when Brad Thorn counted his lucky stars to stay on the pitch after a dangerous spear tackle on Springbok captain John Smit.
It was a striking difference from the drab one-sided summer tours against the northern hemisphere and at times, the south africans did well to live with the simmering All-Blacks.
History was being rewritten as the first international match under the ELVs and with the cold, wet and windy weather in addition to the raging fury of the players, mistakes were made, although it didn't devalue a fantastic Test
Bryan Habana lit up a bruising first half with a sensational finish after Jean de Villiers ran an intelligent line, shrugging off a weak Sitiveni Sivivatu tackle on half-way, before unleashing the fastest winger on the planet for his 31st try for the Boks and reduce the defecit to a single point at half-time.
Butch James took several chunks out of Dan Carter with a litter of aggresive high hits. Carter would have the final word, with a collection of magic touches and a crucial 14-point haul.
Carter conjured up the All-Blacks only score. Andy Ellis sniped around the fringes and a clever one-two with the fly-half opened up a half-chance outwide and a delayed pass from the silver surfer released the industrial Thorn who flicked a pass to number eight Jerome Kaino, who barged over from five metres.
Full of passion, dedication and skill, the ELVs couldn't overshadow a tremendous Test match that resembled a sumo-wrestle rather than a mass brawl. Roll on Dunedin.