Krige saluted a brave display

Victory secured the Tri-Nations title for the All Blacks but South Africa competed throughout to show they will be no pushover for England at the World Cup.

"I am not happy that we lost but I am really happy with the way the guys played," Krige said.

"At least we can take something out of this for the World Cup. Our forwards played really well and some of our backs played really well too."

Krige admitted the record 52-16 defeat inflicted by the All Blacks in Pretoria three weeks ago had made the visitors determined to avoid another embarrassing defeat.

We knew it would be really tough and they played really well NZ captain Reuben Thorne

"We said that what happened at Loftus Versfeld could never happen again," he explained. "They tried to run us down out wide but our defence was sorted out.

"We were in the Test all the time, we attacked them close to the rucks and our game plan was working. But we just didn't finish off our opportunities."

Krige also saluted the tremendous solo try of prop Richard Bands, who sprinted 40 metres to score in the first half.

Match report: NZ 19-11 SA

"It was a great try, the sort of try we like to score through forward-dominated play," Krige added.

New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne insisted he was not surprised by the vast improvement by South Africa.

"We expected them to come out fired up after two disappointing losses," he said.

The Springboks frustrated their hosts

"We knew it would be really tough and they played really well. Their defence was superb.

"In the first half we played most of our rugby down our end and it was a bit messy at the back of the rucks - that is an area we need to work on."

With only one early try from wing sensation Joe Rokocoko, his 11th in six Tests, the All Blacks were grateful for an immaculate kicking display from fly-half Carlos Spencer.

"He kicked really well," Thorne said. "We always believed in him and he just showed what he's capable of."

Having secured their second successive Tri-Nations title, New Zealand will aim to wrestle back the Bledisloe Cup from Australia for the first time in five years in the final match of the tournament in Auckland next Saturday.