The All Blacks have begun their Rugby World Cup defence with a tight 23-13 win over the Springboks.
It was all South Africa to start, Handre Pollard knocking over a long-range penalty to open the scoring as his side dominated early possession. But after an easier attempt from Pollard struck the post, the All Blacks counterpunched in typical fashion with two quickfire tries.
First it was man of the match Beauden Barrett breaking the line to put George Bridge away after a Richie Mo’unga cross-field kick allowed Sevu Reece to break downfield. Shortly after, Anton Lienert-Brown busted through a number of South African tackle in broken play and unloaded for Scott Barrett to cross under the posts untouched.
When Richie Mo’unga added a penalty straight after, New Zealand had turned a 3-0 deficit into a 17-3 lead in the space of five minutes.
The Springboks did close the gap on the back of some sustained pressure in the second half, a smart bit of work from Pieter-Steph du Toit seeing him stroll through the middle of the ruck to the line without having to evade as much as a single tackle before Pollard knocked over a drop goal from 40 metres out to make it a four-point game.
Successful penalties from Mo’unga and Barrett put the All Blacks ten points to the good though, and their opponents were unable to break through for another score.
That will be one of the Springboks’ biggest concerns from the match; while they were able to retain possession and occupy good field position, they rarely stretched the New Zealand defence, looking bereft of ideas in attack.
One exception to that was Cheslin Kolbe, who was a genuine threat down the right-hand touchline and went close to scoring in the second half. However, Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team will have a nervous wait over the diminutive winger’s fitness after he went down late in the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
Du Toit, too, may have an injury concern after spending some time down on the pitch in the closing stages, but both he and Kolbe were able to play out the remainder of the match.
The result means the All Blacks will almost certainly top Pool B, while South Africa will likely have to play Ireland in the quarter-finals.
piru
Roar Rookie
Mapimpi tackled him over the shoulder, ie his offence stopped a certain try, ie penalty try and YC The rest of it is really irrelevant
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
I think Ardie was praying with him wasn't he ?
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
More concerned about SBW getting a red card and a suspension. I've only recently seen the 2011 semi final where he got a yellow (out of the country at the time). Comparing that with his red in 2017 and other cards recently I really can't see any difference in his tackling technique. For all the good things and the uniqueness he brings I simply can't get over the thought that he's a problem waiting to happen.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
More importantly Adam - does it work for her ? Or is it not safe to say ?
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Not only that he was very slow reacting to the ALB break. The Bok might have stopped that try with more urgency chasing back - with Faf being the worst offender.
Nova
Roar Rookie
Boo hoo
Nova
Roar Rookie
The Boks placed too much emphasis on their rushing defence which worked for the first 20 mins until the ABS found some space and got those 2 quick tries. Then they seemed to fall apart missing tackles and leaving themselves open that’s the risk with the rushing defence it can also create gaps which the ABS capitalised on. In the second half they should have realised that wasn’t working and gone to plan B. As good as Kolbe is, he’s not a one man band. Faf’s aimless kicks did them no favours either.
Nova
Roar Rookie
No...he said the call was gutless., not the ref. Imagine an AB captain calling the ref gutless as if that would ever happen.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Well I suppose it's good that someone enjoyed that final. I'd rather watch paint dry.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Cane no problem, sideline f up by officials that WR have rectified to prevent happening again.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Despite the best intentions of Mapimpe and Am
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I rescue helpless kittens too ...
One Eye
Roar Rookie
After Wellington last year Faf was the second coming...
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Well the ABs disproved that theory last night
One Eye
Roar Rookie
He seems to have got your attention...
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Such a typically arrogant, unnecessary and inaccurate closing few sentences. Why take such delight in being a dullard so often? Were you starved of attention as a child. Are you still?
pm
Roar Rookie
I was surprised Barret got player of the match. He didn't stand out to me as much as he usually does. Probably will on the rewatch. What i was so impressed by again with him as how, as a little guy, he runs such straight lines, at least initially. Very unselfish.
pm
Roar Rookie
Also nice to see the sportsmanship by Savea, going out of his way to have a long chat with Kolbe at the end.
andy
Guest
How do you possibly define that as a scrape. The two best teams in the world meet... they've been seperated by a point in most recent matches, and most recently a draw... and the All Blacks beat them by ten points... Not scaping by...
pm
Roar Rookie
I also wonder about the wisdom of throwing so much of the rush defence at them right away, S. A seem to have done that against them for years- i recently rewatched a 2015 game where they did it and got ahead till the 30 minute mark then gradually the ABs came back and won. I guess they think it rattles them. And it probably does, but only briefly: they have the tools to work through that like few other teams would.Might be smarter to just ramp that up at certain periods of the match, but start just by focusong on getting your rhythm and confidence in attack and just making sure ypur tackles stick. Obviously 80 minutes is long, and the Blacks can can do so much damage so quick