A superb individual display from Morne Steyn put South Africa on top of the 2009 Tri Nations following a victory over New Zealand in Durban. The fly-half set an individual Tri Nations record with all 31 points via a try, conversion and eight penalties.
The All Blacks took an early 10-3 lead when lock Isaac Ross finished off a sweeping length-of-the-field move. But Steyn's 38th-minute try regained the lead the Boks never relinquished as four further penalties secured the win. It was a monumental display from the Bulls star, who came into the starting XV as a replacement for Ruan Pienaar, who twisted his ankle in the 28-19 win over New Zealand in Bloemfontein last weekend.
A 74th-minute penalty - his ninth successful kick from 10 attempts - saw Steyn surpass former All Black Andrew Mehrtens' previous Tri-Nations record of 29 against Australia in Auckland in 1999. A convincing victory was the perfect way for captain John Smit to celebrate leading South Africa for a world record 60th time, surpassing Australian legend George Gregan and England's Will Carling. The World Cup-winning prop received a standing ovation from his home crowd at King's Park when he was replaced inside the final three minutes.
The Boks, who now top the table, led 22-13 at the break, with the All Blacks scoring a try through Ross. The other 14 New Zealand points came with fly-half Stephen Donald kicking three penalties and a conversion, and his replacement, Luke McAlister a penalty. * With agencies