World champions South Africa ended a 10-year wait for a win in New Zealand with a pulsating 30-28 victory over the All Blacks in a Tri-nations test yesterday.

Scrumhalf Enrico Januarie, who was instrumental throughout, scored the winning try with four minutes left with the Springboks reduced to 14 men following captain Victor Matfield's yellow card.

Matfield had been sent from the field three minutes earlier for a high tackle, setting up New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter for his sixth penalty to give the All Blacks a 28-23 lead.

However, the South Africans battled back to register their first win in Dunedin at their eighth attempt and their first in New Zealand since a 13-3 triumph in Wellington in 1998.

The Springboks took a slender 17-15 lead into half-time in a fiercely contested match after a 32nd-minute try from JP Pietersen.

The All Blacks regained the advantage 16 minutes into the second period when replacement flank Sione Lauaki stepped inside to score before Januarie snatched victory for the visitors.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said the victory had no bearing on his coaching credentials because he felt he had nothing to prove.

De Villiers, South Africa's first black coach, had been under pressure both in New Zealand and back at home after the world champions lost 19-8 in Wellington last week.

"I've got nothing to prove. I believe in myself, the players and God. Everyone's entitled to their opinion but the way we stood up today as a group can change those opinions," De Villiers told reporters.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said the test had demonstrated the high calibre of rugby played in the Tri-nations tournament, which also features Australia.

"There are three very even sides in this competition and you couldn't get a bigger test than this one. It was a superb game, a really enjoyable spectacle and a great showcase for the game," Henry said.

South Africa now travel to Australia to play the Wallabies in Perth next Saturday.