The All Blacks have beaten the Springboks by 57 to 0 this evening in Auckland and stretch their lead at the top of the Rugby Championship.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
All Blacks 57
Springboks 0
The All Blacks and Springboks go head to head in Round 4 of the Rugby Championship at QBE Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 5:35pm (AEST).
The All Blacks versus the Boks is something special, and this is the 94th clash between the pair.
It’s easy to assume the Kiwis will rack up their 56th win, but the Boks’ recent form suggests that their might be some surprises in store.
South Africa are shaking off the poor form of 2016 with good wins against France and are now unbeaten in the Rugby Championship. They arguably should have beaten the Wallabies last week in Perth, showing great determination to come back strongly in the second half and salvage a draw.
The British and Irish Lions showed the world earlier this year that the All Blacks can be contained – and even beaten – at home. The Wallabies came close, but ultimately failed, although the Pumas’ spirited opposition was never going to threaten the Kiwis’ march through this year’s tournament.
If the Boks can combine the successful defensive tactics that the Lions used with their own natural flair and desire to attack, then New Zealand could be in trouble.
Damian McKenzie will want to use the rest of this season to make the fullback shirt his own – or at least ensure Ben Smith doesn’t just stroll back into his jersey once he returns from his sabbatical. Meanwhile, Sonny Bill Williams will be keen to impress after a poor series against the Lions and a less-than-stellar start to this year’s Championship.
For the Boks, Elton Jantjies seems to have finally taken the step up from Super Rugby star to international leader, but there will be no greater challenge to him than the All Blacks. His kicking game especially will need to be on point.
The battle of the best second rows in the game will be great to watch, particularly with solid set pieces being so important.
Prediction
The Springboks are clearly improving and promise to push their old enemy hard, but the All Blacks will have too much class across the field.
All Blacks by 15 points.
Quotas are obviously more important than winning
hopalong
Guest
Boks are able to put together a very good team of overseas players. Would not be humiliated. Well o.k. The following local players. Leyds Combrink Am Schreuder Louw M.Coetzee With a decent coach.
Yeah mate, I told you.
Coconut
Guest
I often wonder that too about the passes. They look so flat, and maybe the camera angle makes it look forward because of that - but in reality I think these 'line balls' are very difficult to police because everything is happening so fast with multiple players in motion - it must be very hard for a ref to see everything that is going on...
Highlander
Guest
Paulo - that looks like the number for total foreign born players, not PI's?
Left Wing
Guest
Springboks were lucky to get nil ek se ?
Jacko
Guest
Yet the replay shows he was clearly on side....every time I watched it...Use your Bib to wipe your chin
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah Harry and said we had really good preparation? Really where? when? Surely the axe must fall on getting under qualified coaches in the interests of ethnic quotas? The SA coaches got totally schooled by their NZ counterparts..
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah Harry and said we had really good preparation? Really where? when? Surely the axe must fall on getting under qualified coaches in the interests of ethnic quotas? The SA coaches got totally schooled by their NZ counterparts..
Taylorman
Guest
Aaaah, the memories...?
Taylorman
Guest
Yes they still keep going for the old school coaches dont they. Theres been a serious disconnect between Super and test rugby and part of that just must be coaching and selection. In the same way that players get picked so should coaches success have an impact on the make up of the Boks, the Lions coach making two finals now should just go straight into the Boks side given the current coaches stats, 2016 at least. The wheels turn too slow on that one and now he'll be lost to overseas. NZ would try anything to avoid getting into that situation, easy to say I know.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Not the most up to date stat, but still proves this is a false narrative As of 2014: 1133 All Blacks 32 born in the Islands. I cant be bothered going and digging the stats up, but I am sure you would find a lot of NZ born players in the PI teams. Just as an aside, you do realize that Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world.
Mark
Guest
Even if there was - the SB were architects of their own demise Worst Lineout performance I have ever seen from a SB side Worst Scrum performance I have ever seen from a SB side
Mark
Guest
Yes - you managed to get NIL
Misha
Guest
Didn't notice any that weren't blown up - don't forget TV angles are not true angles to judge from..you have 3 refs watching for this all the time and they are ususally best placed to judge
Misha
Guest
Did we just witness an online suicide of Biltong??
Harry Jones
Expert
SA produces exceptional rugby-suited athletes; as I witnessed today in Lyon, France. At one point, all the Top 14 action on the pitch was Saffa-driven. Etzebeth and Kriel, for example, can do things (power and pace) few humans can do, and still handle/run for 80:00. I'm sure you realize: SA players ✔️; SA coaches ❌
Taylorman
Guest
Yes you just have to mention 57 point wins 'before' the match...
Taylorman
Guest
Yeah well thats a point but I think that was really the last remnants of the Jake White coached side. This Boks team has been rudderless for years.
Bluesfan
Guest
Well - then why don't we say then that any international player if coached by the AB team would walk into the AB's? Reality is Marx - can't throw the football into the lineout but is selected? Recall the Super final - Lions lost because he didn't hit his men on two lineouts on the Crusaders line. Kitshoff - all I can recall of him is that when playing in the Super Comp, him being hopeless at scrum time. Kriel - Quality but size is an issue. Etzebeth - Quality but appears to be going backwards. As i have said before - look at how good the 2009 side were and they had to put up with DeVilliers coaching.