ALI WILLIAMS proved again he's a man for a big occasion as he shrugged off an ankle injury to inspire the All Blacks to victory in an enthralling Tri Nations opener against the Springboks.

As expected, the world champion South Africans brought a much higher level of intensity to Wellington than anything Ireland or England could muster last month.

There was blood and there was plenty going on off the ball.

And among it all, Williams led a mighty effort from the All Blacks forwards to earn a victory befitting his 50th Test cap.

Given his limited preparation and knowing the pressures he would be under from the big Bok forwards, Williams needed to produce something special. And he did, ripping into everything from the outset.

He was the set-piece rock and a persistent nuisance around the fringes of a torrid forward battle.

Williams got some muscular support from his lock partner Brad Thorn as the All Blacks preserved an unbeaten 30-win home record.

This was no easy victory but a massive statement from a new-look side to regain the No. 1 ranking.

The All Blacks certainly had the better of another cold, wet evening.

Rodney So'oialo was inspired by his new captaincy responsibilities to produce a commanding effort at No. 7 while Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino took their games to new levels against a South African side they were facing for the first time.

Kaino shrugged off his own difficult week to celebrate with a vital try just after half-time and nearly had another soon after.

The All Blacks managed to survive their lineout examination and, as expected, had a superior scrum.

But it was a messy match at times, with the difficult conditions producing many errors.

This historic Test, the first to be played under the new ELVs, was certainly played at a frantic pace.

Through it all Dan Carter dodged and weaved and kept the All Blacks heading in the right areas with his field kicking as well as landing another vital haul of 14 points.

The game erupted when Thorn upended John Smit in the fifth minute and the forwards got into a real stoush. The Boks got the penalty and Butch James landed from 40m.

Carter kicked two more penalties but the Boks got back to 9-8 at halftime as Jean de Villiers made the first break of the match to send Bryan Habana over in the corner.