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 20-3 South Africa, 42 minutes
The lineout is a bit of a rush job, but Eben Etzebeth claims safely with no lift and South Africa can clear their lines. Willemse does so, but only up to just beyond the 22.
New Zealand 20-3 South Africa, 41 minutes
New Zealand start where they left off, Mark Telea getting up above the South African catcher to win back aerial possession, Damian Willemse tumbling away to continue his difficult outing so far. Richie Mo’unga then slides a diagonal kick beyond the South Africa defence - out it goes about ten metres from the South Africa line.
HT: New Zealand 20-3 South Africa
The use of that bench will be intriguing. Might we see Manie Libbok earlier than expected with Damian Willemse not quite able to yet impress himself on the game.
“We need to be clinical,” South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says at half-time. “We are making a lot of unforced errors and that brings the All Blacks into the game. We need to calm down a bit and make sure we keep ball in hand.”
A half-time change from New Zealand - and a significant one. Sam Cane has hurt himself and has a jacket on, with Dalton Papali’i introduced on the openside. Ardie Savea takes over as skipper.
HT: New Zealand 20-3 South Africa
What has been clear is how New Zealand have picked on the strengths that typically form the bedrock of South Africa’s game - the Springboks backfield has been all over the place in the air, and their set-piece has wobbled. The All Blacks kick variation has tested South Africa’s wide defence, a tactic that also brought joy when these two met in the pool stages at the 2019 World Cup.
South Africa may feel that Cheslin Kolbe’s no try could have been given - it did look like the wing’s hand pressed against the top of the ball after it had spilled out of Beauden Barrett’s grasp on the All Blacks’ line. They’ll need plenty of impact from that power-packed bench to get back in this.
HT: New Zealand 20-3 South Africa
A brilliant half from the All Blacks, better in just about every facet than their visitors, who have struggled for control on a greasy night in Auckland. New Zealand, by contrast, have been accurate, intense and frighteningly physical in defence to take a sizeable half-time advantage into the sheds.
Will Jordan has injected all sorts of threat off his wing, Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga have asked varied questions in playmaking partnership and Brodie Retallick and co. have provided the power up front. It’s been very, very good so far from the home side.
New Zealand 20-3 South Africa, 42 minutes
Held up! Mathieu Raynal wants to check with the TMO but it looks like Eben Etzebeth was unable to force to floor as three All Blacks wrapped themselves around the colossus.
In fact, there’s no need to check - a neck roll from Lood de Jager earlier in the movement and that’ll be that for the first 40.
New Zealand 20-3 South Africa, 41 minutes
The All Blacks hold firm against the maul. Option B for South Africa, their forwards doing some punching in tight.
New Zealand 20-3 South Africa, 40 minutes
South Africa try to find something before half-time. Willie le Roux is busy, controlling from first receiver with Damian Willemse a little wider. A better sustained effort from the Springboks as the hooter sounds, Willemse jinking and jiving past a couple.
Makazole Mapimpi pops up on the right, alongside his opposite wing Cheslin Kolbe. Mark Telea covers across but slips up over the shoulder - penalty to South Africa. Prodded into the corner. A score here might be a must if South Africa are to have hope of fighting back.
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