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South Africa wowed the rugby media with their dominant record-breaking win at Twickenham, outclassing the All Blacks in every department.
This is how writers from both sides, and the neutrals, saw the contest.
“The Springboks stuck to their word and pummelled New Zealand into submission at Twickenham in their final warm-up match before their defence of the World Cup starts,”wrote Leighton Koopman on South African website iol.co.za.
“Springbok captain Siya Kolisi promised on Thursday they would go all out, and boy did they turn the screws on the All Blacks from the kickoff. They delivered on their promise, and a powerful 80-minute performance by the forwards and backline kept New Zealand under severe pressure throughout.
“There wasn’t a facet that the Boks did not dominate for the entire game, and this performance will stand them in good stead in terms of momentum heading into the World Cup.”
Stuart Barnes, writing in The Times was blown away by the Springboks.
“Talk about Test-match pedigree. Talk about statements. New Zealand’s record defeat was an echoing endorsement of South Africa, Scott Barrett’s red card and possible ban a cause for concern,” wrote Barnes.
“It was an awful day for Ian Foster’s All Blacks, who face France in their opening World Cup match, but a cracking day for English neutrals.
“As for Twickenham, it had the privilege of hosting the world’s two great rugby superpowers. It was good to be at the stadium. I haven’t been able to write that for a while.”
Gavin Rich, writing for Supersport.com, said the Springboks “confirmed the rude health they are in heading into the Rugby World Cup with a smashing record 35-7 win.”
“Smashing is the apt expression as the All Blacks were smashed into submission in a first half in which, as 1995 World Cup winner analyst Joel Stransky put it, could have been 35-0 to the reigning world champions rather than the 14-0 that it was.
“From the off the All Blacks were smashed in the tackle, smashed in the collisions and smashed at forward, with the Bok pack taking complete control of every aspect of the up-front battle as Siya Kolisi’s men set up camp for eight of the first 10 minutes in the All Black 22-metre area and enjoyed a vice-like grip on the territory and possession battle throughout the half.”
Beauden Barrett reacts to the loss. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Robert Kitson of The Guardian was enthralled by the contest.
“At last some full-throttle rugby to raise the pulse in south-west London. It may have been a frustrating August for English supporters but here was the thunderous real deal, disguised as a so-called friendly. If this was a warm-up, those about to encounter a rampant South Africa at next month’s World Cup should brace themselves for something massively impactful.
“A full house of almost 81,000, some 30,000 more than are set to attend England’s game with Fiji this weekend, were also given a reminder of the importance of discipline in the modern game. Scott Barrett’s 38th-minute red card for a shoulder to the head of the outstanding Springbok hooker, Malcolm Marx, significantly shaped the outcome here and could have sizeable implications for his team going forward.
“Not as sizeable as this record margin, though. By the end it was about as grisly a dress rehearsal as New Zealand could possibly have experienced. South Africa’s triumph was their most convincing in the 102-year history of this fixture and a depleted All Black pack were left in pieces on the floor. Even before Barrett’s early bath his side’s second-row resources were already stretched and tight-head prop Tyrel Lomax looked to be another serious casualty on a heavy-duty evening.
“On this evidence the Boks will make mincemeat of one or two packs at the World Cup.”
Liam Napier, writing for the NZ Herald, said it was a case of “injuries, cards and a deflating defeat equate to carnage at a heaving Twickenham for the All Blacks.
“The All Blacks wanted a full-blown test in their final outing before the World Cup. They got that and much, much more.
“Two weeks out from the global showpiece the All Blacks suffered a humbling loss to the world champion Springboks. While the result carries minimal World Cup implications, it is another healthy dose of force-fed adversity for Ian Foster’s men.
“With the feel-good factor surrounding the All Blacks sucked into the London air, how they bottle this experience and respond will be telling.
Gregor Paul, also in the NZ Herald, wrote: “The good ship All Blacks met choppy waters for the first time in 2023 in London and ended up looking a lot less seaworthy than at any time this year.
“It ended up with a giant hole being ripped in the hull, as not only were various parts of the All Blacks’ game exposed as having a previously unrealised fragility, but they may have also lost another two key forwards for the opening game of the World Cup.
“The defeat wasn’t such a bad thing by itself and an argument could even be made to see it as a positive – giving the All Blacks a profound hunger to bounce back in Paris – but the nature of it was a concern.
“A big concern. The margin of defeat was massive and reflective of the fact South Africa’s domination was total.
“They were more physical. Way more physical. They were hungrier, sharper and their backline, never one that anyone talks about with much respect, were slicker and more decisive.”
Charlie Morgan, writing in London’s Daily Telegraph, that “Scotland and Ireland, the Springboks’ pool opponents, might have been watching this monstering from behind their sofas by the end”.
He added, “warm-up or not, New Zealand will have left Twickenham with egos and bodies bruised from all-time record loss; more so because they were close to full strength”.
“Jacques Nienaber’s team partied like it was the 2019 final, and seem in a strong position to defend their title across The Channel.”
Chris Foy, writing in the Daily Mail, said the Springboks “showed that they can defend the title they won in 2019, with a demonstration of force and flair”.
While “it would be premature to write off New Zealand, never in their proud history have they been beaten so badly by anyone and it will savagely dent their belief ahead of a tournament opener against hosts France in Paris”.
“In theory, these great rivals could meet again in the World Cup quarterfinals. If so, the Springboks are bound to take heart from striking a massive psychological blow here.”
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