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 21-0 New Zealand, 54 minutes
New Zealand are back to numerical equilibrium but that deficit looks ever larger as time ticks on. A fumble in the Springboks’ 22 will give South Africa the scrum feed, seven forward replacements and Andre Esterhuizen as a makeshift blindside packing down as Faf de Klerk inserts.
An excellent clearance up the right. New Zealand take possession 15 metres inside their own half.
YELLOW CARD! Pieter-Steph du Toit is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 52 minutes
Matthew Carley’s cards will be required again. There’s a significant stoop into contact from Sam Cane but direct contact between arm and head - it meets the yellow card threshold for certain, though I think that is all it will be. Pieter-Steph du Toit is off to the sin bin while the FPRO considers whether it is a red.
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 52 minutes
Almost an opening for New Zealand, Aaron Smith sharp on the snipe with Ardie Savea reading his scrum half’s mind and providing support. The number eight can’t collect an offload, though.
The All Blacks have a penalty on halfway regardless - but TMO Tom Foley calls in with something to check beforehand. Pieter-Steph du Toit’s arm looks rather close to Sam Cane’s head as a physical contest continues...
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 50 minutes
Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Trevor Nyakane pick up where Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe left off. Scrum penalty to the Springboks.
New Zealand call for forward bodies of their own - Ethan de Groot and Sam Whitelock off; Tamaiti Williams and Josh Lord, two newer All Black faces, on.
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 48 minutes
And here come the South African reinforcements. It appears all seven bench forwards are now out there, with Cobus Reinach the last replacement left perched riding the pine.
They are immediately pressed into defensive duty, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden busying themselves from the back row and just about holding out as New Zealand probe towards the right. Tupou Vaa’i plants the ball down in-goal but an earlier knock-on means it will be South Africa’s scrum six metres or so from their own line.
NO TRY! South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 46 minutes
A thing of sinuous beauty!
Or not! Canan Moodie had looked to have weaved his way brilliantly past three All Blacks defenders having latched on to a loose ball, but the outside centre was in an offside position before latching on to a loose ball after New Zealand had made a mess of a Springbok ruck. TMO Tom Foley intervenes with Manie Libbok lining up his conversion - and all the way back South Africa will have to come.
South Africa 21-0 New Zealand, 44 minutes
A collision in the air between Richie Mo’unga and Kurt-Lee Arendese, but nothing illicit in either’s actions, with South Africa happy to take a lineout throw as it ricohets out off the All Blacks ten.
The Springboks bench are braced - all eight replacements look to be stripped off and ready to enter the fray.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 21-0 New Zealand (Malcolm Marx try, 42 minutes)
And the Springboks are over almost instantly after the restart!
Simple as you like for Malcolm Marx, Siya Kolisi peeling back blind from the base of a maul and finding his hooker alone on the touchline with All Blacks short of number defending the five-metre channel. Aaron Smith’s resistance is futile.
Manie Libbok hangs his touchline conversion up in the breeze...and judges it perfectly.
South Africa 14-0 New Zealand, 41 minutes
It’s a mighty inauspicious beginning to the second half from the All Blacks - an already messy attempted exit is made even worse by a horrible slice off the left boot from Beauden Barrett...
Second half....
South Africa are out first for the second half, rather more keen for a resumption than New Zealand’s 14 men. Sam Cane slaps hands with Samisoni Taukei’aho, who is on for Dane Coles at hooker.
Manie Libbok will get things back underway.
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