* New Zealand close to the title
* Springboks miss several kicks (Adds details)
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Sept 15 (Reuters) – New Zealand flyhalf Aaron Cruden kicked two late penalties as the All Blacks edged South Africa 21-11 at Otago Stadium on Saturday and leave them on the verge of winning the inaugural Rugby Championship.
The victory for the unbeaten All Blacks leaves the Springboks having to win their final two games with bonus points and hoping New Zealand lose both of their remaining games to give them an outside chance of taking the title.
Australia must also win their final three games, they play Argentina later on Saturday, with at least one bonus point to give them a chance at the title.
Both New Zealand and South Africa have plenty to work on in their weeks off before their next matches in two weeks when the All Blacks head to Argentina and the Springboks host the Wallabies.
The All Blacks, hoping to play the game at a pace and width probably not seen since their 1995 World Cup side, again committed too many errors when they had the ball and gave away too many penalties.
It was not until the second half when their forwards managed to get sufficient ground over the gain line that gaps opened and they were able to clinch victory after Aaron Smith’s try and Cruden’s two late penalties.
The Springboks, who had drawn and lost their previous two games in the Rugby Championship, will also be frustrated they didn’t seize the opportunities they created, missing 20 points from poor goal kicking under the roof in Dunedin.
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