South Africa v New Zealand LIVE: Rugby result and reaction after Springboks thrash All Blacks
The Springboks and All Blacks square off in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham
South Africa laid down a marker ahead of the Rugby World Cup with a record win over New Zealand at Twickenham.
In the final warm-up fixture for both southern hemisphere sides before the tournament in France, the Springboks were close to irresistable, capitalising on the All Blacks’ indiscipline to produce a statement 35-7 thrashing.
First half tries from Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse were followed by scores from Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith after the interval as the world champions flexed their muscles ahead of the defence of their crown in front of a close-to-capacity crowd in London.
Cam Roigard’s spectacular late consolation was all that New Zealand could muster on a disastrous evening for head coach Ian Foster, with Scott Barrett sent off as thee All Blacks suffered their biggest ever defeat.
The lock was shown a second yellow card after dropping a shoulder into Marx’s head and will face a disciplinary hearing, while starting tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax was also carted off with a serious-looking leg injury.
The All Blacks open the World Cup against hosts France in Paris on Friday 8 September, while South Africa begin their campaign against Scotland in Marseille two days later.
Follow the action from Twickenham with our blog below and you can find the latest rugby tips and betting offers here:
South Africa 35-7 New Zealand, 74 minutes
The All Blacks punt down into South Africa’s 22, hoping to further narrow the deficit. No dice - an errant lineout and South Africa kick back up towards halfway.
TRY! South Africa 35-7 NEW ZEALAND (Cam Roigard try, 72 minutes)
Cam Roigard breaks the All Blacks duck with a spectacular solo score!
It’s pure individual brilliance from the young scrum-half, who blends real speed with a sizeable frame. He throws Canan Moodie off his shoulders before tossing aside both Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok.
Cobus Reinach closes quickly on the cover, but not quickly enough. New Zealand avoid total ignominy but it’s little more than a consolation.
South Africa 35-0 New Zealand, 69 minutes
This is some statement from South Africa. Smith more than deserved that try - called in late after Willie le Roux’s niggle failed to clear up in time for kick off, he’s been outstanding in the back row off the bench. Maybe seven forward replacements is the future?
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 35-0 New Zealand (Kwagga Smith try, 68 minutes)
Kwagga Smith scurries away to score!
It’s getting ugly for the All Blacks. They throw in the bodies to try and quell South Africa’s lineout drive but the Springboks are wise to it, altering the point of attack and letting their former sevens star dance. Smith waltzes away from Jordie Barrett and Manie Libbok ensures it’s another seven-pointer.
South Africa 28-0 New Zealand, 66 minutes
The All Blacks’ forwards look up into the Twickenham night sky for answers as South Africa’s forwards march them back again. Manie Libbok nails his kick to the corner.
South Africa 28-0 New Zealand, 65 minutes
The All Blacks will feel they haven’t quite got Mark Telea involved enough this evening. The wing has swapped sides but continues to look a danger on every touch, showing his rapid acceleration to blaze upfield and then writhing out of Damian Willemse’s tackle. South Africa, restored to a full 15 with Pieter-Steph du Toit back out there, recover and force a handling error.
Here’s the Springboks’ fourth score:
South Africa 28-0 New Zealand, 63 minutes
RG Snyman pops up in space, unfurling a floated pass that doesn’t quite have the amplitude to get all the way to Kurt-Lee Arendse. New Zealand try to counter but Cam Roigard, on for Aaron Smith at scrum half, loses control of the ball as he tries to free the arms and a teammate.
Cobus Reinach, usually a scrum half, replaces Makazole Mapimpi on the left wing for South Africa. New Zealand make changes, too: Sam Cane is off, Dalton Papali’i on, and Anton Lienert-Brown is on in the backline, too, with JWill Jordan the man replaced.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 28-0 New Zealand (Bongi Mbonambi try, 60 minutes)
A bit of a scuffle after scoring but Bongi Mbonambi rides the chariot and gets it down!
The seven Springbok forwards on the pitch are mighty enough, blowing away New Zealand’s own depleted unit with another show of South African force. Manie Libbok adds another impresive conversion from out wide to continue to answer his kicking critics.
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 58 minutes
His side are doing ok without him, mind. Kwagga Smith detonates a breakdown to earn the Springboks a penalty, which is guided into the left corner...
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 56 minutes
A miscue from De Klerk, trying to find the corner with a diagonal box kick thinking Will Jordan is too far up to retreat and retrieve in time, but overweighting and misdirecting his jabbed effort, with Jordan watching it dribble harmlessly over the dead ball line.
Pieter-Steph du Toit’s yellow card remains - it has not been upgraded to a red and the flanker will be back with us once his period in the sin bin ends.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments