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:
YELLOW CARD! Sam Cane is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 15 minutes
Another yellow! Matthew Carley goes to his pocket once more, with Sam Cane picked out after New Zealand infringe with a Springboks maul starting to rumble. The All Blacks are down to 13!
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 14 minutes
Oh no. This really doesn’t look good for Lomax, so improved as a player over the last 18 months or so. The big tighthead looks disconsolate as the cart comes out to carry him off, his World Cup now surely in doubt.
Fletcher Newell is thrown on in his place. South Africa, now with a man advantage, kick back into the All Blacks’ 22.
YELLOW CARD! Scott Barrett is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 14 minutes
It was coming. Scott Barrett plays Faf de Klerk before the scrum half has the ball in his hands, and with New Zealand most certainly warned, off he’ll go for ten minutes to consider his actions.
There might be more to worry Ian Foster, too, with Tyrel Lomax in real discomfort clutching at his leg...
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 13 minutes
Richie Mo’unga’s clearance is shallow, but New Zealand pinch Malcolm Marx’s lineout and clear more appropriately.
Back the Springboks will come, tough with Damian Willemse showing off his footwork.
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 12 minutes
Yet, somehow, it remains scoreless! New Zealand hang on again, South Africa biffing seemingly inexorably closer until Faf de Klerk fumbles at the base of a ruck. It is properly hooning it down now, but surely the Springboks may live to rue these missed opportunities?
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 10 minutes
Yes, the All Blacks are in real strife. A second scrum penalty and a fifth in total in the first ten minutes. Sam Cane wanders from left to right like a scolding schoolteacher, passing on the referee’s warning to his team.
South Africa, unsurprisingly, opt to scrum again with Frans Malherbe licking his lips.
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 7 minutes
New Zealand are all over the place in this first ten minutes. A prod in behind forces Richie Mo’unga to turn, collecting a couple of metres short of his own try line, and Aaron Smith’s pass to Sam Cane is a wobbler, pitching and skidding through the captain’s legs. Cane is forced to ground in goal - South Africa’s five metre scrum feed.
South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 6 minutes
This time the All Blacks get their maul defence spot on! The rain has begun to tumble at Twickenham as South Africa’s burly men gather in a tangled mass, straining to make muscular advance towards the try line. But New Zealand hold firm and earn a scrum when it collapses.
In touch! South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 5 minutes
Another near miss! Advantage once more for South Africa, and now the backs get the chance to spread it, Manie Libbok combining in playmaking partnership with Damian Willemse.
Willemse puts his foot down and has the beating of Will Jordan, forcing the end man to step in, but Makazole Mapimpi runs out of room with chalk on his heels on the left touchline.
But New Zealand remain in real bother with that penalty to come back to. Malcolm Marx will throw again from five out.
Held up! South Africa 0-0 New Zealand, 3 minutes
Pieter-Steph du Toit powers over but can’t get it down! The All Blacks are penalised again at the maul and South Africa play away, Du Toit fastest around the corner and showing his own sharp footwork to beat the first tackler. But enough black shirts get around him and turtle the blindside flanker!
Still, South Africa will plough again in that right corner - with Sam Cane already called over for a chat by referee Matthew Carley...
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