South Africa 22 - 29 New Zealand: All Blacks back from the brink to clinch title at the death

The All Blacks trailed with two minutes left until captain Richie McCaw and then Dagg dotted down to clinched their tenth Tri-Nations crown in 15 seasons and break South African hearts - and spoil South Africa captain John Smit's 100th Test.

McCaw squeezed over in the right corner in the 78th minute, and the try was eventually awarded after long deliberation by the TMO.

With the scores locked at 22-22, and with just seconds remaining, centre Ma'a Nonu then broke through the South African backline and passed to replacement wing Dagg, who ran in a brilliant winning try.

It was the first time the All Blacks had held the lead in the entire match. Stand-off Dan Carter kicked 14 points for the All Blacks.

In the first-ever rugby international in Soweto, in front of more than 90,000 people at FNB Stadium, South Africa grabbed the first try through flanker Schalk Burger and flyhalf Morne Steyn added five penalties and a conversion to put the Springboks on course to end a three-match losing streak in the competition.

But New Zealand hit back late in the first half with a try from prop Tony Woodcock after a sweeping move started by a break from veteran lock Brad Thorn.

And despite trailing for much of the second half, the competition's in-form team launched attack after attack against a tiring South Africa in the final 20 minutes - before McCaw and then Dagg sealed victory in dramatic fashion at the venue which hosted the football World Cup final last month.

Scorers: South Africa: Try: Burger; Con: Steyn Pen: Steyn (5). New Zealand: Tries: Woodcock, McCaw, Dagg; Con: Carter; Pen: Carter (4).

South Africa: G Aplon: JP Pietersen, J de Jongh, J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F Hougaard (E Januarie 75); G Steenkamp, J Smit, J du Plessis (CJ van der Linde 61), F van der Merwe (D Rossouw 24-40, 69), V Matfield, S Burger, J Smith (F Louw 59),P Spies.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, J Rokocoko (I Dagg 57): D Carter,J Cowan (P Weepu 42); T Woodcock, K Mealamu, B Franks (J Afoa 61), T Donnelly, J Kaino (V Vito 69), R McCaw, K Read.

Referee: N Owens (WRU)