South Africa have put in a masterclass of forward power to thrash New Zealand 35-7 in their Rugby World Cup warm-up at neutral Twickenham, the biggest-ever loss for the All Blacks in their 102-year Test history.
It was a performance that serves as a warning to the Springboks’ rivals as they prepare to defend their World Cup title in France. The rampant champions scored five tries through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hookers Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi and flanker Kwagga Smith.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster was concerned but not reaching for the panic button despite the mauling.
“We got squeezed and exposed. But if we could choose one trophy not to have in our cabinet at the end of the year, it would be this one. You couldn’t help but be impressed with what they did, they really got stuck into us,” said Foster.
“Their physicality and their set-piece was superb and they had a massive game at scrum and line-out time. That was a big difference.
“I think both teams needed that game, we certainly did. We lost the cohesion when we were put under pressure but I thought our defence in the first 20 minutes was outstanding and if we had more discipline in key areas we could have counter-punched.”
But New Zealand played the entire second half with 14 players after lock Scott Barrett received a second yellow card, equating to a red, as they had no answer to the Springboks’ intensity and set-piece domination.
Replacement back Cam Roigard scored a late consolation try for New Zealand but coach Ian Foster will be alarmed at how his first-choice selection were second best in every facet of the game ahead of their World Cup opener with France in Paris on September 8.
South Africa dominated from the first whistle on a chastening night for World Cup favourites New Zealand.
The Boks had hammered Wales 52-16 in Cardiff last weekend and started in the same vain, with relentless early pressure leading to a 13th-minute sin-binning for Barrett – who paid the price for repeated New Zealand infringements.
Prop Tyrel Lomax was then forced off with what appeared to be a deep gash to his leg before skipper Sam Cane was also shown a yellow card in a disastrous first 15 minutes for the All Blacks.
“They were dominant in all facets,” Cane said. “It stings. It hurts. It’s a game we have to learn a lot from. But I’d much rather we have it now than in a few weeks.
“It hurts to lose a Test the way we did. The only good that can come out of it is if we have a good hard review. As a pack we have a lot of work to do. Next week will be important in terms of preparation.”
Lomax’s availability for the Cup is in major doubt.
”He has quite a nasty cut, at the bottom of his thigh,’’ Foster said. “It is the second cut we have had this year, with sharp plastic sprigs on boots, so we are going to have a good look at. It is very significant, so we are going to have to wait and see and cross our fingers on that.’’
New Zealand, who were imperious in securing the 2023 Rugby Championship title last month, defended resolutely but Kolisi forced his way over for the opening try after 18 minutes.
Richie Mo’unga hit the post with a simple penalty and Arendse ran in South Africa’s second try from an interception to make it 14-0.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Things went from bad to worse for the All Blacks as Barrett was shown a second yellow and sent off just before halftime for dangerously flying into a clearout – meaning he is likely to miss their World Cup opener against France on September 8.
The Springboks hit the ground running again after the break as Marx scored following a line-out.
Pieter-Steph Du Toit was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle but a fresh forward pack, after seven substitutions, powered over for a fourth Springboks try as Mbonambi touched down.
New Zealand had no answer to South Africa as Smith added a fifth, with Manie Libbok flawless with the boot, before Roigard’s first Test try offered New Zealand’s only moment of joy.
with AAP
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Looks like he has gotten away with it !
Wheelbarrow
Roar Rookie
Helps if teams don’t infringe and play to the rules
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Fiji have really added structure to their game and focused heavily on improving their set piece. Great win for them, was cheering them.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Last concerned about the result and the manner than I am about the trophy that was at stake! What the ...!?!?
yeah-nah
Roar Rookie
Deliberately? Really? If you say so.
peter marks
Roar Rookie
The Boks were far and away the better team on Friday night. But each game has its own narrative. The previous time the teams played the All Blacks ran the Boks off their feet in the first 20 minutes. The first 20 minutes of Friday's test, by sharp contrast, was played almost entirely in the All Blacks' 22, a seemingly endless series of penalties keeping the Boks on the front foot camped close to the All Blacks' line. Strength sapping stuff for the All Blacks and psychologically uplifting for the Boks. That pressure produced two yellow cards, reducing the All Blacks at one point to six forwards. And yet, if you wanted to salvage something from the debris (and there's no doubting that for the All Blacks that Friday night was a trainwreck) the Boks only scored two tries for all that first half dominance: one when the All Blacks were down to 13 men, the other from an intercept. With one man permanently down from the end of the first half the game was essentially over for the All Blacks, especially as the Boks 7/1 bench split meant that they could bring on a new forward pack. Which, sensibly and decisively, they did almost immediately. Their three second half tries, as you would expect, were all scored through forward dominance, the first from the fact that Aaron was filling in for Dane Coles on the blind side. He was never going to stop Malcolm Marx. So the Boks' focus on forward drives was exactly the right strategy from a team with a skilled, giant and aggressive pack. The Boks' dominance meant that they were able to play in their comfort zone throughout, and they did that regally. Congrats to them. The Roigard try merely saved All Black blushes. But, as the difference between the Mt Smart and the Twickenham games shows, the team able to establish its pattern of play (forward-oriented, in the case of the Boks, backs-oriented in the case of the All Blacks) is likely to dominate. This is to take nothing away from the Boks' win, which was awesome. But as both teams have shown in their last two confrontations, past performance is not indicative of future results.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
My sense is the AB's are potentially in real strife. A front row average at best post retirement of several hard men and other greats perhaps running around for one campaign too many - Whitelock, Retallick, Coles. And as for the biggest Barrett - he really has to get that dirty play out of his game.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
That just irritates me bliksem …so many kiwis saying they lost because of being a man down . When in reality they went a man down because they were losing ..Red and yellow cards are not an esoteric external factor . They are part n parcel every match these days and will play a big role in the upcoming WC . Managing and controlling is as much part of rugby now as is scrumming , mauling , attack , defence etc…Its no longer an excuse ..
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Then tell me why, his issue is before the judicary on Monday night? I'll say it again, he won't be there, as it's the judicary that will judge on the issue.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Try again as the judiciary is meeting on Monday night to look into the charge, but where did I say he’d have to be there?
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Issue is it is not just a team but a fully rounded squad.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Good points Musso. Can’t argue with any of that.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
No, he won't attend any judiciary. You have it wrong. Upgrading to a red merely means the playercan't come back on, not that he will face a judiciary. Based on a few posts, you aren't the only roar fan that has got this wrong and misinterpretted the laws.
Thom
Roar Rookie
Seems the northern hemisphere fanspacked out the southern hemisphere game. Or did the wilting roses have a few quid on the mighty Fijians.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Losing a close one can spur a team on for next time. But ABs losing in this manner will cast major doubts, perhaps a bit of mental scarring. Boks & IRE my top two fav for RWC. FRA drops to three without Ntamack.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
He should be coping a lane stand down. Striking a player in the back of the head like is very dangerous. If the UFC won’t let you do that to another fighter, rugby should also make sure that is punished appropriately.
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Vermeulen might be in more trouble, if they check some spectator footage ....
Chucked
Roar Rookie
Albany 2017 Aug 27- NZ 57- SA 0 Wgtn 2017 Sept14 / NZ 25 - SA 24 Improvements are possible Enough of the doom and gloom
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
It was a good performance but not a complete performance. For the Boks to beat Scotland, Ireland, NZ and France they would need to seize more try scoring opportunities. They will not be as dominant as they were in this game as everyone will prepare accordingly. They are definitely one of the four teams that can win this RWC, however consistency remains a issue.
Rusty
Roar Guru
best reply ever lol