New Zealand vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as All Blacks beat Springboks
New Zealand 35-20 South Africa: The All Blacks produce a first-half blitz to all but secure the Rugby Championship trophy
New Zealand rode another blistering start to a 35-20 victory over South Africa at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, making a big statement in a World Cup year and placing one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy.
Playing a high-octane brand of attacking rugby married with immense physicality, the All Blacks scored early tries through Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell before late scores from Will Jordan and Richie Mo’unga put a seal on the victory.
The world champions, starved of the ball and heavily penalised, looked shellshocked by the early onslaught but recovered to score second-half tries through Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith.
The victory made it two wins out of two in the truncated championship for the All Blacks after last week’s 41-12 win over Argentina that was also built on an early try blitz.
Relive all the action from the Rugby Championship below:
New Zealand 30-15 South Africa, 76 minutes
New Zealand fancy another before they sign off for the evening. A kick deep down into the South Africa 22 doesn’t bring immediate joy, but a scrum five metres out should offer an ideal attacking platform.
New Zealand 30-15 South Africa, 74 minutes
Tamaiti Williams’s first scrum entanglement at test level ends with a whistle the All Blacks’ way - it was Nepo Laulala doing the damage on the other side with Thomas du Toit twisted in.
New Zealand 30-15 South Africa, 73 minutes
Superb work from Finlay Christie in defence. Manie Libbok’s charming hips try to draw Christie out of the line but the scrum-half corrals his man, keeping him up off the floor for long enough for some bulkier blokes to arrive and ensure Libbok is unable to get to ground. Turnover, All Blacks scrum.
New Zealand 30-15 South Africa, 72 minutes
That might just be enough for the All Blacks to continue their nearly 30-year unbeaten run in Auckland. Tupou Vaa’i is on for Shannon Frizell, while Mark Telea has been replaced by Caleb Clarke.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 30-15 South Africa (Will Jordan try, 69 minutes)
A deft dab from Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan gets his 22nd test try!
New Zealand re-find their attacking flow, once more managing to ask diverse questions with smart changes of direction. They eventually draw an advantage for offside, granting Barrett the freedom for more extravagant exploration. He changes tack as he takes Finlay Christie’s pass, spotting Lukhanyo Am infield on the left edge of South Africa’s defence and clipping a little lob wedge over him.
Jordan, who has been outstanding, waits for the bounce and just about manages to gather and ground at the second attempt. Richie Mo’unga conversion is a good’un.
New Zealand 23-15 South Africa, 67 minutes
South Africa’s defence has been so much better since half-time, able to slow New Zealand’s ball at the breakdown with intelligently timed injections of power. They force a kick from Beauden Barrett and are a little unfortunate that Cheslin Kolbe’s blocking foot skews the ball only into touch.
Braydon Ennor replaces Rieko Ioane at outside centre for New Zealand, while Manie Libbok is on in South Africa’s backline - Damian Willemse appears to have shifted into the centres, with Lukhanyo Am pushed on to the wing.
New Zealand 23-15 South Africa, 65 minutes
New Zealand have just lost the control they showed in the first half, their intensity and accuracy dropping in these last 15 minutes or so as South Africa’s bench power their side back into the game.
That’s the sort of thing the All Blacks need - Ardie Savea leads a counter-rucking thrust, Scott Barrett and Samisoni Taukei’aho providing burly support and winning a penalty.
TRY! New Zealand 23-15 SOUTH AFRICA (Cheslin Kolbe try, 62 minutes)
Now Cheslin Kolbe has his try!
South Africa are right back in this! There’s initial suspicion that Willie le Roux’s wide pass might be forward out of the hands but the officials are happy it is flat, Cheslin Kolbe unopposed as he pronks into the corner.
His touchline conversion hits the right-hand post as referee Mathieu Raynal attends to a cramping calf. The Frenchman appears ok to continue.
New Zealand 23-10 South Africa, 61 minutes
More changes from both teams - Vincent Koch is on at tighthead for South Africa and will confront Tamaiti Williams, the All Blacks’ mahoosive new loosehead on for a test debut. Finlay Christie is introduced at scrum-half in Aaron Smith’s stead, and his first involvement is poor, a horrible hacked hook into touch to gift South Africa attacking possession.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments