Jaque Fourie scored a late try as world champions South Africa opened their Tri-Nations campaign with a 28-19 victory over holders New Zealand in Bloemfontein yesterday.

Fourie raced down the right touchline for a 72nd-minute try to clinch the win while Morne Steyn completed the scoring with an angled penalty from halfway with just two minutes remaining.

Flyhalf Ruan Pienaar had scored a 26th-minute try and kicked a penalty, with full-back François Steyn adding two penalties to give the Springboks a 14-3 half-time lead.

South Africa could have been out of sight at the break but for poor goal-kicking, with Pienaar missing four penalty attempts.

Coach Peter de Villiers replaced him at half-time with Steyn, who immediately kicked a penalty and added another in the 57th minute.

A Stephen Donald penalty was all New Zealand had to show for their first-half effort, but they quickly struck back after the break, closing the gap to 17-13 after centre Conrad Smith sped through for a try in the 48th minute and Donald added the conversion and a penalty.