Trailing 20-17 with seven minutes to play the All Blacks ran a crafty lineout move close to the tryline that saw hooker Codie Taylor throw a low ball to Richie McCaw who barged over the tryline.
Lima Sopoaga converted the try to put the All Blacks out to a 24-20 lead before kicking a penalty on fulltime to seal the victory at Ellis Park.
Read said he thought up the lineout move during the week while watching video of the Springboks.
"I came up with it," Read said today.
"You look at it each week, how teams defend. It's pretty nice when it comes off. It doesn't normally come off but when it does it's a good feeling.
Read admitted he couldn't reveal too much ahead of the Rugby World Cup later in the year.
"I saw a little opportunity but I can't be giving too much away. As you know there are some important games later in the year where we might need something.
"You've just got to take the opportunities when they present themselves.
"The context of the game and it's a move you don't know if it's going to work when you come up with it to be honest, but it just played out perfectly. Put us in front so I was pretty happy."
The All Blacks have a week off before heading to Sydney to face the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship decider.
