DUNEDIN, New Zealand -- Replacement scrumhalf Aaron Smith turned disgrace into triumph when he came off the bench to score New Zealand's decisive try in a 21-11 win over South Africa on Saturday that kept the world's top-ranked side unbeaten after four matches in the four-nation Rugby Championship.
Smith was relegated to the New Zealand reserves bench after starting the five previous tests for a breach of team curfew following its 21-5 win over Argentina in Wellington last weekend.
He took the field as a halftime replacement for Piri Weepu and scored a brilliant solo try from a broken play in the 60th minute that decided a match which, but for his contribution, was torrid and hard-fought.
South Africa held an 8-5 lead after an early second half try to winger Bryan Habana but New Zealand tied the score with a penalty and clinched victory with Smith's try.
