South Africa were celebrating their biggest win over New Zealand in 94 years on Sunday and the media of both countries turned on the All Blacks after a fifth loss in six Tests.
Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse scored his first international try but was then sent off as the Boks claimed a comfortable 26-10 victory in their Rugby Championship opener at the Mbombela Stadium.
They bossed the set-piece and breakdown, with hooker Malcolm Marx particularly devastating in his 50th Test.
Replacement back Willie le Roux also crossed for a try and fly-half Handre Pollard kicked 17 points for the home side.
It was South Africa’s biggest win over the All Blacks since 1928, despite finishing the game with 14 players after Arendse was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the air after 75 minutes.
New Zealand managed a late try through flanker Shannon Frizell, but it is a fifth defeat in their last six Tests. The result will pile more pressure on head coach Ian Foster, especially as they never looked like winning.
Brett McKay, Harry Jones and Jim Tucker talk about the Boks’ win over the All Blacks in our Instant Reaction podcast
“The Springboks threw a hell of a lot at us, we did quite well to absorb it but it took a lot out of us. They kept applying pressure, especially at the breakdown and that disrupted a lot of our flow,” All Blacks captain Sam Cane said.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, it really hurts. We must get better at the breakdown and the contestables (in the air). I can’t ask any more of the team in terms of the belief and the effort. It is just small margins at this level.”
New Zealand made too many unforced errors with stray passes and knock-ons from carries and will have to show a vast improvement ahead of the second Rugby Championship match-up between the two sides at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Saturday.
Aaron Smith of New Zealand during The Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Mbombela Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
The Boks crossed for the first try on eight minutes as Pollard kicked a high ball that was not collected by All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett and Lukanya Am sent Arendse away to dot down in the corner.
New Zealand got their first points in the 36th minute, with their first scoring opportunity. Jordie Barrett landed a penalty from in front and they will have been relieved to go into the break only 10-3 down.
Pollard landed two more penalties and a drop-goal, but Arendse’s red card with five minutes remaining gave the visitors a chance.
They scored a try after a superb break from wing Caleb Clarke, playing his first test in two years, was finished by Frizell.
But the Boks had the last say as Le Roux crossed for an easy score after another loose All Blacks pass in their own 22 provided him the opportunity.
“It was a grind, exactly what we wanted. We wanted to match them up front,” Bok captain Siya Kolisi said.
“We were good with the high balls, we kept it as structured as possible and we had the discipline to make the tackles.
“Malcolm (Marx) was brilliant, every time there was a ruck he seemed to come up with the ball. He has been a big player for Springbok rugby for some time.”
New Zealand’s media is getting used to sharpening their insults in recent times, and the focus was turned to under fire coach Ian Foster once again.
It was reported last week that Foster could be sacked should the team not win at least one game of the two in South Africa and they currently look miles away from making that happen.
“It’s time to ring Scott Robertson, tell him to be waiting with his hand-picked assistants and for him and Jason Ryan to get on with rebuilding a legacy that is in danger of being horribly tainted if there is not definitive action taken,” wrote Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald.
“There is nothing now that can happen to convince anyone in New Zealand – anyone who knows the game – that the All Blacks are going to miraculously improve without a total and brutal cleanout and reset.
“Confidence has been shattered, all hope lost and it would be madness for New Zealand Rugby to do anything other than get out the cheque book, pay off the termination fees and usher in a new era.”
Also in the NZ Herald, Liam Napier bemoaned a lack of response from the ABs under enormous pressure.
“In their defining hour, their day of reckoning, the All Blacks barely fired a shot,” wrote Napier.
“Mbombela Stadium exploded at the seams with 45,000 screaming South Africans forming a sea of green; a piercing atmosphere. The locals sure had plenty to shout about, too.
“In that white hot cauldron, among swarming Springboks, on their first venture to South Africa in four years, the All Blacks failed to cope with the relentless aerial and physical assault on their senses.
“It wasn’t the All Blacks were intimidated. It wasn’t they were caught off guard, either. The Boks stuck to their unimaginative kick-heavy, forward-dominated blueprint and executed it to perfection. The All Blacks knew it was coming – and still had few answers.”
Jamie Wall, writing for Radio New Zealand, was typically savage in his assessment.
“Here we go again. Another All Black loss in 2022, the third in four tests, another week of mounting pressure on the coaching staff and the people that put them there. The loss was another extension of the gaping wound that is the national side, now festering with pus and infection, stinking to high heaven of defeat and desperation.”
Foster called it “probably our best performance of the year”. Wall said that “seems somewhat laughable considering it was the heaviest defeat to the Springboks since 1928.
“But really, the sad truth is that he might be right.
“However, if that’s all there is to brag about, then the labelling of this test shows just how delusional this side is about the way they are playing. As if it wasn’t already, this is a serious crisis that is only going to get worse before it gets better.”
Writing for Stuff, Marc Hinton said it was no disgrace to lose to South Africa, but the nature of the loss showed change was needed.
“This was a limited, painful and at times gormless performance from an All Blacks side that has completely lost its mojo, its confidence, its rhythm and, to be frank, its wherewithal.
“Ian Foster’s coaching tenure now hangs by a slender thread after his All Blacks proved patently ill-equipped to handle a superb display of high-intensity rugby from the world champion Springboks,” wrote Hinton.
“The South Africans started and all-but finished this Rugby Championship opener, in front of a passionate, seething crowd of over 43,000 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, with players being driven off the field in medi-carts, but in between they applied a massive knockout blow to these reeling All Blacks with a 26-10 victory that was every bit as one-sided as it sounds.
“It is no disgrace to lose to a side of the calibre of this South African outfit. Plenty have over the years, and plenty more will too in days to come. But to go down so decisively, and largely fail to apply anything resembling sustained pressure on their opponents for so much of this one-sided contest, well, it spoke to how far this All Blacks side has plunged.”
Meanwhile the South African media basked in their team’s dominant display.
“They may have failed to keep the All Blacks tryless in a Bok win for the first time since the Wellington success in 1998, but the 16-point buffer was by far their most convincing winning margin in the professional era,” wrote By Khanyiso Tshwaku on news24.com
“It wasn’t pretty – seldom is the Bok way of rugby – and it is said that only a mother could love how they go about their business.
“However, they earned the love of not just the 42 387 who packed into the giraffe-propped nation, but the entire country. “It was aggressive It was physical. It was faultless and flawless in every sense.”
Craig Ray, writing for DailyMaverick.co.za, said the Boks were “dominant, emphatic, claustrophobic and clinical.
“The Springboks have seldom, if ever, dominated an All Black side so comprehensively. Despite a 26-10 final scoreline, the tourists were lucky it was not a lot worse.
“New Zealand hardly had any ball, they lost the aerial battle, they were destroyed on the ground and smothered when they did try to launch attacks.
“All Blacks coach Ian Foster’s time in charge is now surely measured in hours, not days.”
Glenn W Ford
Guest
Hi Dusty I appreciate the comments and can understand the perspectives you offer. It is difficult for anyone, not born and raised in New Zealand to undertand what the All Blacks, the Black Caps, the Silver Ferns and White Ferns., mean to the population as a whole. Unlike Australia which has ALF, Soccer, Cricket, NRL , Rugby union to follow and the strength of support in each varies state by state, New Zealand as a country whole population is essentially either no sport, or rugby union or cricket supporters. Sure they have league, but if you poll the population and ask on the same given day in the same city and it was an All Blacks Game or NZ Warriors game, which would you say, I would venture the split would be something like. 20% would watch neither, 50% would pick the All Blacks and 30% would pick the Warriors. It is a cultural thing and not one I expect anyone not a kiwi born and raised there to understand. Am I passionate bout Rugby Union...yes, absolutely and without shame, but I am not so passionate that I put it over and above other of lifes necessities like family and work and home. Hope that makes some sense. But even if if does not...Rubgy Rules...It is more than just a game
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Perhaps. Personally I'd rather see the RC every 2nd year anyway - the one after and the one before the WC.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
Reports of some sort are commonly commissioned, browsed and simply filed. It's highly questionable that this one would have been pushed forward without 1) Covid 2) The big noise about Pacific teams. And even #2 was ultimately shafted by RA - not that I completely blame them. Under the pre-covid state of events, this would have been discussed more fully with the franchises - who would have pushed back and something else emerged.
WEST
Roar Guru
At this point employing a new coaching team… Could it get any worse? Funny how Foster is making very similar comments as Coetzee, a lot of positives, we can take a lot out of that, we just need to keep working on our goals :laughing: ahh good times :thumbup:
Suzy Poison
Guest
It's a very interesting point WEST. I checked the teams in the 57-0 win for the AB's against the Boks in Durban. Interestingly there are six AB starters are in the current team. Rieko Ioane , Beau Barrett , Aaron Smith, Dane Coles, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane and two on the bench. Scott Barrett and Ardie Savea are also in the current team. So 8 AB Players all up from that game. For the Boks there are 4 starters from that game, all in the forwards. M Marx, E Etzebeth, F Mostert and Siya Kolisi. However there are 7 bench players in Bok current team. B Mbonambi, S Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Lodewyk de Jager, P-S Du Toit, Handre Pollard and D de Allende. So 11 players all up from that team. I think the biggest change Rassie introduced was Offshore Eligibility Laws. That meant he could bring in experienced veterans. Willie Le Roux, Frans Louw, Duane Vermeulen and of course bring in some exciting backline players like Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am. So it is very possible for Razor to make instant change. The other factor is, Nienaber and Rassie were coaching together in Ireland, so they learnt a lot over there too. Razor has a bit of playing experience in France, but not quite the same Coaching overseas experience.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Hi Glen, I know it means a lot, the Wallabies (and probably even more so, the Brumbies) mean a lot to me. On my wedding day, my groomsmen and I wore Brums jumpers for some of my wedding photos, for goodness sake... I played at flyhalf in club rugby, Larkham and Smith were my idols, I rejoiced in every strong performance from the Brums and the Wallabies, and I hated the entire world after a loss. Especially to the Crusaders or the All Blacks. While Australia has a multitude of competing footy codes and it's a tough market, amongst rugby people the other codes mean NOTHING. I'm an Aussie, I'm now 47 years old, and I have never in my life watched an entire game of Australian rules. It's the scrappiest, ugliest game in the world. Many other New South Welshman probably wouldn't have watched an entire game either. None of my family or mates have. Rugby is the ONLY game. But, having said all that, adversity in rugby gradually means you have to adapt. Placing that much importance on rugby, to the extent that you are defined by it and your self-esteem depends on it, is not healthy. Making sure that other domains in your life are just as salient (or probably MORE salient, in the case of family and career etc.), is incredibly important. If we Aussie rugby people hadn't adapted, we'd all have been severely depressed for the better part of 15 years now... I feel for Foster and the current ABs players, and i wouldn't be surprised if they and/or their families are being harrassed or threatened right now. It's gone way too far. I also note you addressed me by the tag "Roar Rookie", and it's true that I'm a new contributor here, but as a rugby person I'm anything but. I'm also a psychologist and an ADF veteran, and I've seen how identifying too strongly with one organisation or vocation can cause incredible harm when it's gone (or even just tainted). I'm never going to tell anyone what to do, but the points i make above are well-informed having worked in Defence and mental health for 22 years. They may be food for thought, that's all.
Glenn W Ford
Guest
Hi Roar Rookie Your comments are insightful from the other side of the camp and as you stated, you do not quite understand the "mana" of which I commented. I agree, a team cannot win forever, but there is also a tolerance to losses of a style which are recognised not so much by being beaten by a better team, but because we simply failed at doing the basic things right, we failed at capitilising on others errors and made too many unforced ones of our own. Read most of the NZ commentary from those far more specialised in the sport that I and they all sing a very similar tune, along that line. As for it being 'just a game' . To you in Australia it may well be, but to a high proportion of the Kiwi population it is far more that 'just a game' It is or at least was almost a religion. True, no one likes to loose. Kiwis do not like to loose by underperforming. They are prepared to loose because they simply played their hearts out and got beaten by a better team on the day. Probably only one of the last 4 losses can be attributed to that kind of loss. Certainly the others are very much down to the issues I noted and others have echoed in their own way Tur
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
Absolutely. The boks are extremely good at their game and winning by 16 points against NZ is pretty enterprising
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Another ridiculous assumption from a known maniac! Gutless wuss!
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
The Springboks maintained their pressure and turned into points enough excursions into the All Blacks territory to secure the win. The All Black couldn't maintain pressure - everything turned into a knock-on, free kick, penalty. Even the 50/50 contests such as high kicks went, on balance, to SA. Mediocre. When Frizzell dropped the pass that went behind him, at the 80 minute mark, was he too far forward or was it a bad pass behind him?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Why would I not have the guts to say it to your face? I know your type, hiding when among real men and being all tough and violent against woman, children and behind your keyboard.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
If anything you don’t know the meaning of respect
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well in truth most know what a hypocritical liar you are. You won’t answer questions put to you, & classing yourself as a Guru, is beyond belief. You wouldn’t know crap from clay, as most have seen your form here, being critical of others posts. You are an absolute disgrace to your race, &’as I said previously you wouldn’t have the guts to say it to my face. Just another wuss, that evidently is really missing his Thai ladyboy bars!
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
The writers of the report did. As I said it was commission pre-covid and publish during early covid. It said the NZ teams only needed to be in an 8-10 team league that would be predominantly NZ teams. NZRU accepted the report as the best way forward which says They agreed that the only thing that mattered was that the current 5 NZ SR teams were good enough to stay as they were, and others would need to adapt to be accepted. It was accepted that the money this new comp would bring in was worth more to their game with no travel to NZRU and NZ rugby than the money and games provided by the more physical SA & Jag teams teams. In 2019 these teams had been 3 of the top 8 and 5 of the top 10. Lions and Stormers were 1 pts behind Chiefs in 7th.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Oh, Keith started your mates car? Wow! That gotta mean you were a good mate to him. You are some piece of work, I give you that :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: And again, I don't abuse the Maori culture, I call you out being someone with no mana or honor, all you got is a big mouth and big lies. Every Maori I met IRL has been great people and they would be seriously embarrassed to see and hear how you abuse their culture and heritage hence how you carry yourself around The Roar.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Here you go again, with your utterly ridiculous assumptions, as knowing both those great blokes, was special. As it is little boy your jealousy is showing. So if I didn’t know Keith, can you tell me, how he started a good mate of mines car?? Honestly though we don’t need your BS, as all your good for, is using, abusing & disrespecting our culture. I have worked with a few Swedes in tunnel construction in Deep Cove & Turangi, & at least they were respectful towards our culture, unlike your warped mind, doesn’t see! As it is, again you fail to answer my questions being the hypocrite you are.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He’ll be good for sure but world’s best is a bit much at this stage
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
I'd be surprised if anyone of note misunderstood what RSA and Argentina bring to SR. But for a number of years all that RA was providing was tackling practice - with no end in sight.