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All Blacks hold off spirited Irish
 McAlister crosses the line for the decisive try against Ireland. SYDNEY, Australia -- New Zealand withstood a spirited Ireland challenge to win the second Test 27-17 in torrential rain at Eden Park, Auckland. The Irish, who have now failed to beat the All Blacks in 20 Tests, trailed only 20-17 with 10 minutes left before flyhalf Luke McAlister's try gave the hosts a cushion. The sides scored two tries each in the first half, scrumhalf Byron Kelleher and prop Clarke Dermody for New Zealand and lock Paul O'Connell and hooker Jerry Flannery for Ireland. "It was a real old test and we had to grind it out," said All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. "Ireland fought back and put us under pressure so we are happy to get away with it. It was a bit slippery out there." New Zealand, who led 20-14 at the interval, won the first test 34-23 in Hamilton. The All Blacks started well and scored their first try after just six minutes, Kelleher diving over the line from close range following a lineout. McAlister converted and Kelleher almost scored again with a trademark darting run following another New Zealand drive. McAlister kicked a penalty and the All Blacks confirmed their early dominance after 27 minutes when Dermody touched down to score a try in only his second Test. Ireland looked shell-shocked but they gave themselves hope when O'Connell fooled the All Blacks' defence soon afterwards. The big second-rower was tackled about 10 meters from the line but, with the defenders inexplicably standing off, O'Connell stood back up and galloped over the line unopposed. Ronan O'Gara converted from underneath the posts to cut the deficit to 17-7 but McAlister's penalty immediately extended the hosts' lead to 20-7. Ireland hit back before halftime when hooker Jerry Flannery barrelled over after the Irish forwards won a lineout and drove a maul across the All Blacks' line. O'Gara kicked another penalty early in the second half and, with New Zealand clearly rattled, the Irish sensed a famous victory. A succession of handling errors increased New Zealand's anxiety but McAlister calmed the nerves when he cut through the Irish defence with a scything run from 10 metres to capitalise on a spell of controlled possession. South Africa scrape victoryMeanwhile, South Africa secured a 2-0 series win over a spirited Scotland with a scratchy 29-15 victory in the second Test in Port Elizabeth. Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery scored 21 points, from seven penalties, which took him beyond 600 points in Test rugby. Wing Simon Webster and replacement flanker Donnie Macfadyen scored tries for Scotland while scrumhalf Fourie du Preez scored the only try for the home team. The win ensured Springbok coach Jake White maintained his unbeaten record at home since he took charge in 2004. The Springboks have now stretched that sequence to 13 matches. Scotland lost the first Test 36-16. The less than convincing display by the South Africans led to the unusual sound of booing from the home supporters. The Boks failed to subdue the Scots and were reduced to kicking for goal when they failed to break down the brave defence. The visitors had two tries disallowed, the first by Webster, who knocked the ball on when gathering and dotting down on the stroke of halftime. The second disallowed try came when English referee Tony Spreadbury called play back for a knock-on after wing Chris Paterson had run 50 meters to the line. The second call seemed hard on the Scots because the Springboks had already enjoyed a long advantage. The home side were superior in the set piece, particularly in the scrum, and forced Scotland into numerous infringements which Montgomery punished with his boot. It took 62 minutes for the Springboks to breach the Scottish line when Du Preez scored after number eight Joe van Niekerk had worked the blindside following a five-metre scrum. Scotland shocked the Springboks in the 10th minute when Webster ran on to a perfectly weighted stab kick by flyhalf Gordon Ross to score in the corner. Macfadyen's try came with eight minutes remaining. Springbok wing Breyton Paulse tried to clear a ruck with a poor pass to flyhalf Jaco van der Westhuyzen. The outside half spilled the ball in his in-goal area and Macfadyen was first to pounce, although he might have been offside. It made no difference to the final outcome after Montgomery kicked two more penalties in the final five minutes. The Springboks meet France in Cape Town next week. 
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