The plaudits have started to flow in for the All Blacks after they booked a place in the Rugby World Cup final with a 20-18 defeat of South Africa at Twickenham today.

Prime Minister John Key was in the stands to witness the closely fought contest and tweeted. "What a game! @Springboks pushed the @AllBlacks hard but what an outstanding response."


Sean Fitzpatrick
@frontrow92
What a fantastic semi. The great rivalry lives on. @AllBlacks @Springboks


Helen Clark
@HelenClarkUNDP
Close shave for @AllBlacks @rugbyworldcup, but a win's a win. Congrats to ABs; team of 4 million in NZ cheers you on twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/


RACHEL HUNTER
@rachelhunterx
You boys are incredible !! What a game ! @AllBlacks

Former England international Matt Dawson who made headlines this World Cup for his "hakarena" video wrote on Twitter: "Proper performance from the ABs. Winning ugly is a wonderful trait in rugby."

The All Blacks will play either Australia or Argentina in the final next Sunday with the two Southern Hemisphere teams going head-to-head in the second semifinal tomorrow morning.