It was smash, smash and smash again as the Springboks and All Blacks went hammer and tongs at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The All Blacks won 21-11 because they made the most of their chances, while the South Africans simply did not.
They missed seven shots at goal -although a couple would have fantastic kicks had they gone over - and it was more a case of South Africa losing than the All Blacks winning.
Aaron Cruden did not have a great night with the boot either, missing three shots at goal.
All Black second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu said the match was as physical as expected.
"We tried to muscle up in that end of the first half. In that second half we had to get a bit smarter, look to pass the ball a few times," he said.
"I think there was a patch at the start of the second half there where we really defended hard and managed to get a few turnovers ... When we took the ball up we had to take it up strong and maintain strong carries.
"They were just flopping on the ball straight away and I think in the first half we had some average cleans, really, and they got a few penalties.
"It is hard to play these guys.
We maybe should have kicked a bit more in the first half and we tried to play too much in our own half. We didn't get clean ball.
They have got the best lineout in the world, good scrum too, so that made it hard."
The All Blacks were sucked into playing the Springboks' game. They did not counter-attack balls which went to their back three and tended to not look too far away from the breakdown to set up the next phase.
The game was marred by an ugly elbow to the head of All Black captain Richie McCaw by Springbok replacement prop Dean Greyling, who was yellow-carded, although citing commissioner, Australian Scott Nowland, said after the game he should have been given a red card. A hearing will take place in the next couple of days.
Nonu - who is still considering his options for next year but continues to be linked to the Highlanders - said McCaw's all-out effort was an inspiration.
"He is an amazing guy, really.
He is always the benchmark for our team. He always puts his body on the line and could die for the team."
McCaw stood out in an All Black effort which went in fits and starts.
The Springboks blew an opportunity three minutes into the game, when winger Bryan Habana spilled the ball with the line open.
Morne Steyn opened the scoring after 17 minutes through a penalty but All Black fullback Israel Dagg scored a nice try two minutes later, after some clever passing to create space.
Habana did get over the line seven minutes into the second half, taking the ball off the lineout and then putting in a nice chip kick to score in the corner.
That tied it up at 8-8, but replacement All Black halfback Aaron Smith scored a fine solo try halfway through the second half. He skipped around the side of a ruck and then cut inside covering Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner to score.
The Springboks then had chances, with more missed penalties, and prop Jannie du Plessis dropping the ball within a couple of metres of the tryline.
Cruden slotted a penalty at the end of the game to deny the Boks a bonus point.
All Blacks v Springboks
The scores
All Blacks 21
Israel Dagg, Aaron Smith tries; Aaron Cruden con, 3 pen
Springboks 11
Bryan Habana try; Morne Steyn pen, Johan Goosen pen
Crowd: 29,000.
Halftime: All Blacks 5-3.
