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South Africa vs New Zealand highlights: Rugby Championship live scores, blog

7th October, 2017
Where: DHL Newlands, Cape Town.
When: Sunday 8th October - 2:05am AEDT
Betting Odds: All Blacks $1.14, Pumas $5.50 (Sportsbet)


South Africa
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Francois Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilko Louw, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Damian de Allende.

New Zealand
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 David Havili
The All Blacks win. Again. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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7th October, 2017
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The Springboks will be looking to bounce back from their last start drubbing at the hands of a fired up New Zealand outfit who’ll be looking to win away from home in the Rugby Championship. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:05am (AEDT).

Little needs to be said of the last encounter between these two sides. A 57-0 drubbing by the world champion All Blacks should leave the average Springbok fan more than a little wary of the pain that Steve Hansen’s men could inflict on their side in Cape Town.

That being said, a 27-27 draw with the Wallabies should give them some encouragement, especially given the Wallabies last match against their opponents, where they were beaten on the bell courtesy of a Beauden Barrett five-pointer.

Regardless, expect a much-improved performance from the men in green against the Kiwis tonight.

The Kiwis, on the other hand, were inconsistent last week against the Pumas. Their first half was clinical, assured and built around tenacity in defence that let Barrett and co. display their entire arsenal of attacking skill.

They would’ve been filthy with their lacklustre second half performance, and that could spell danger for the Springboks in this one.

In team news, the All Blacks welcome back Milner-Skudder and Ryan Crotty in two big inclusions.

The Springboks see the most change occurring in their back row, where #7 Pieter-Steph Du Toit will look to repay the faith shown in his recall to the side.

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Where the game will be won
The kicking game. The All Blacks are without a doubt, the best counter-attacking unit in world rugby. The Springboks played ball in hand rugby last week, and should look to shelve their kicking game in this game too if they’re any chance to win.

Mckenzie, Milner-Skudder and Ioane will punish any loose kicks, and it’ll be a comfortable win if the Boks look to kick, rather than run.

Prediction
It won’t be a 57 point drubbing, but the Kiwis will finish the Rugby Championship with a big win.

All Blacks by 19.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 2:05am (AEDT).

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