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Carter kicks All Blacks to victory
 Carter topped 400 points in tests during his matchwinning performance. WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Fly-half Daniel Carter kicked 25 points and set up two tries to guide New Zealand to a 35-17 victory over South Africa in their Tri-Nations match on Saturday. Carter recovered from a first minute blunder to put on a master class. He slotted seven penalties and two conversions and set up scrum-half Piri Weepu and captain Richie McCaw's tries from broken play, to move past 400 points in test matches. The victory ensured that New Zealand head into next week's match with Australia in Brisbane, a possible Bledisloe Cup decider, at the top of the Tri-Nations table with nine points. Yet Carter's day began disastrously when his mistake after 20 seconds gifted the South Africans a try. He looked to stroke the ball to touch from the first ruck of the match but Fourie du Preez blocked his kick and inexpertly but successfully controlled the bounce in-goal to score. Percy Montgomery converted to make it 7-0 The South Africans' rush defense, which had been torn apart by Australia last week in a 49-0 mauling, was markedly improved and put the All Blacks under immense pressure.  Weepu broke through for a try in first-half stoppage time. But the New Zealand forwards lay a stable platform to attack and the Springboks, in desperation to stop quick ball, were penalized heavily at the breakdown and Carter duly struck four unanswered penalties. He then sparked an open-field try in first half stoppage time that was finished off by Weepu. Carter landed two penalties in the first 12 minutes after the break, the second of which took him past the 400-points mark. Paulse gave the Springboks hope of a comeback when he regathered du Preez's cross kick to close the gap to 25-14, before Carter sealed the win with his seventh penalty with five minutes remaining. Carter was not finished and set up McCaw's try with a brilliant chip and chase reminiscent of his own try on the same ground during last year's test against the British and Irish Lions. 
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