All Blacks character was crucial

Character of all members of the emerging All Blacks side was the key to its first-up win over South Africa in the Tri Nations contest played out at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.

Coach Graham Henry was effusive in praising his side which went into the game without its talismanic leader flanker Richie McCaw and said his replacement both as skipper and on the open side of the scrum, Rodney So'oialo had set the example in character and the team had followed.

While lock Ali Williams caught the eye with another impressive display, and Henry described his effort as 'superb', he had just been one of all the forwards who had played well.

The All Blacks had respected the world champions, as they always did respect South Africa and said he was very pleased they had come through to take the win.

But Henry added that it was still early in the series and there was a lot of work, and improving, to be done.

However, he said the game would have given the South Africans some more fires in their bellies and they would come back strong next week.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen said he was happy with lineouts which had started well. It had been difficult to throw the ball long because of the wind but they had set out to disrupt South Africa's ball and he felt they did that quite well.

Backs coach Wayne Smith said he thought halfback Andrew Ellis and first five-eighths Dan Carter had applied the side's strategy well but it had been a night where the forwards provided the impetus and the back had played their part, he said.

"It was a night where it had to be won up front, and it was," he said.

Captain Rodney So'oialo said the game had been the typically physical sort of encounter expected when playing South Africa. But he added it had been a significant night for him to lead the team.

"It was a very proud time for myself and my family. It is a huge honour to be part of the few who get to captain the team," he said.