New Zealand captain Richie McCaw (right) celebrates with teammates at the end of the match as they win the Tri-nations rugby match against South Africa at FNB stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by AP.

The All Blacks proved one of the basic tenets of rugby - that the team that tries to do the most with the ball for the full 80 minutes is most likely to win - as they snatched a thrilling 29-22 victory over the Springboks at FNB Stadium near Soweto.

In what coach Graham Henry rated one of the most significant triumphs by an All Black team, the New Zealanders overturned a 22-17 deficit with two minutes to play, captain Richie McCaw and replacement wing Israel Dagg running in tries to claim an extraordinary win and seal the Tri-Nations title.

"The character and guts they showed was superb, their heart was outstanding. We will not forget that game, it was very special, right up there with any of our victories.

"To come from behind at altitude against the world champions, who were right on the button mentally, was pretty significant. We were up against 94 700 people as well as the Springboks and I can't imagine too many of our wins rank up with this one," Henry said after the match.

McCaw's equalising try had the added drama of being referred to the television match official as desperate tackles by Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana made it touch-and-go as to whether the magnificent loose forward had been forced out into touch.

In the end, South African official Shaun Veldsman ruled McCaw had dotted down the ball at the same time as his boot hit the turf over the line and the All Blacks were level.

Dan Carter, who was out-of-sorts with the boot, succeeding with just five of his nine kicks at goal, hacked the touchline conversion wide.

The Springboks then won the kick-off, but McCaw and hooker Keven Mealamu produced an outstanding burst of counter-rucking that won the turnover, Ma'a Nonu forced a hole in midfield and then fired a long pass out wide for Dagg to score a memorable try.

But the dramatic double strike was hardly a bolt from the blue.

For most of the second half, the Springboks had been scrambling in defence as the All Blacks kept ball in hand and probed relentlessly. Eventually, having to make 134 tackles to New Zealand's 68 took its toll and the South Africans were creaking badly as full-time approached.

Hooker and captain John Smit, playing his 100th Test, blamed himself for the defeat.

"At 22-22, the plan was to have a crack with ball in hand and get [flyhalf and expert drop goal-kicker] Morne Steyn into the pocket. But we suffered a turnover and I then missed a tackle and that was game over. I can't physically describe how it feels to lose your 100th game because of your own missed tackle," Smit said.

"In the first half, I felt we were really in control, we were getting the kicking metres with our kicks, they were accurate, we were getting a return from them and we knew when to kick in terms of decision-making. But in the second half, we gave away a couple of penalties and then missed touch and those things always cost you. When we lost control of our own game, we lost the match," Smit said.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers refused to blame his captain, but said his team's failure to build on a promising first-half display had cost them the match.

"I think John is taking it too personally. I think this team showed that on any given day, if they dictate territory and possession, they can beat any team on any day. But we just went a bit out of our structure, we didn't keep the ball. We fell into defensive mode, even though we defended well. The loss is so painful, but I took a lot of heart from our performance," De Villiers said.

It had been rookie scrumhalf Francois Hougaard (whom Fourie du Preez has clearly taken under his wing at the Bulls), with his excellent kicking, covering and spark on attack, and returning flank Juan Smith, who was steely in defence and carried the ball strongly, who had posed the most problems for the All Blacks and the Springboks made much of the early running as Schalk Burger's close-range try built on three penalties by Steyn.

The All Blacks never really got their slick passing game into top gear and even Tony Woodcock's crucial try just before halftime had some moments of untidiness in its execution, before a massive overlap out on the right allowed the prop to saunter over.