Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

It's hard work being an All Blacks fan when the Rugby World Cup is played on the other end of the world. Sunday was a very long day for Sideline Sid, with a 4am kickoff followed by cricket reporting duties in the afternoon.

The game against South Africa was as hard and uncompromising as any since the two sides met for the first time in Dunedin in 1921. While we won the first ever test 13-5 against the Boks, it wasn't until 1996 that we managed to win a series on South African soil.

There was plenty of tension as the referee continually penalised the All Blacks. However, playing the last quarter in the South African half negated the Boks' kickers' influence on the match.

While the Springboks defense was superb for much of the encounter, the New Zealand attack found the gaps and grabbed the only two touchdowns of the game.

The 20-18 AB's win was too close for comfort, but has put us in the Rugby World Cup title decider for a record fourth time. The standout players for me were Dan Carter, who kicked his attempts at goal with confidence and authority, and Aaron Smith at halfback, with his quality distribution of the ball.

The enemy from over the ditch are all that is standing in the way of the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup for the third time.

If the AB's play against Australia as they have in the first two post-section matches, they should get home – however, they will need to play mistake-free rugby.

The biggest concern against the Boks was the number of penalties we conceded, but Steve Hansen and the rest of the coaching team are sure to address that in the lead up to the final.

Sunday afternoon was spent at Fergusson Park catching the two Attrill Cup cricket matches. The Attrill Cup dates back to the 1930s and is the symbol of regional cricket superiority in the Bay of Plenty.

The title decider was a battle of Tauranga Harbour Bridge, with the combined Mount Maunganui/Te Puke side squaring off with the Tauranga representatives. Tauranga chased down 183 to win the Attrill Cup for the third time in three seasons.

The future of rep cricket in the Bay is in safe hands, after the performances of a number of secondary school youngsters in the Bay of Plenty Invitation XI that defeated Rotorua.

Rotorua were removed for a modest 129, with Tauranga Boys College bowler Kamal Bains taking four wickets for 12 runs. Two other youngsters in Craig Baldry and Kyle Dovey grabbed two wickets apiece.

Tom Renouf batted superbly for the games top score of 60 not out, with Mikaere Leef posting a handy 21 not out.

So it's an early start on Sunday morning for the last time in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and let's hope that all of New Zealand is celebrating with a record third victory.

Go the All Blacks!