Rugby Championship News

All Blacks slaughter sorry Springboks

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New Zealand hammered the Springboks 57-0 at North Harbour Stadium in Albany, running in eight tries to none, record-winning margin and points humiliation.

The All Blacks have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Springboks, including a 42-point win when they last met, which, before today, stood as the largest win in history between the two sides: not anymore.

This was the biggest victory for New Zealand over South Africa ever and the second Test in a row that they have scored 57 points.

South Africa was lucky to get nil.

Nehe Milner-Skudder helped himself to two tries and Beauden Barrett, who was majestic, kicked a penalty and seven conversions for a match haul of 17 points.

Steve Hansen’s men were scintillating, getting a standing ovation as they went in 31-0 at the break after four tris from Rieko Ioane, Milner-Skudder, Scott Barrett and Brodie Rettalick.

It was champagne rugby, the Kiwis at their effervescent best, capitalising on every Springboks’ mistake, every half-chance, not giving the visitors a sniff as they ran riot.

South Africa were their own worst enemies. After a good start, they capitulated, wilting under the weight of the All Blacks pressure, skill and savvy.

The Kiwi back three mesmerized their opponents, running around them and through them at will.

Beauden Barrett was back to his sublime best after some indifferent recent displays.

The first-five eight’s audacious no-look out-the-back-door offload to Milner-Skudder for the wing’s first try was magic.

Barrett’s goal-kicking was excellent, his out-of-hand kicking pin-point. The first-five has no peers in world rugby.

Rettalick and Dane Coles, who were everywhere, were outstanding. They are as mobile and skilled as backs and they wrought havoc, combining for the lock’s score in the second-half.

Liam Squire and Sam Cane caused problems at the breakdown, winning turnovers and setting the tone for their backs to razzle-dazzle.

The demolition job continued after the interval with the home team scoring three more tries.

Milner-Skudder grabbed his 11th Test try and second of the game before leaving the field as the All Blacks led 36-0 going into the final quarter.

Ofa Tu’ungafasi scored with 15 minutes remaining as the All Blacks’ sixth try and Beauden Barrett’s sixth successful kick, put them in record-winning margin territory at 43-0.

Lima Sopoaga scored with five minutes left after Anton Lienert-Brown ran over Handré Pollard. Barrett’s conversion brought up the half-century.

There was still time for Codie Taylor to rub salt into the wounds when he powered over the whitewash after the hooter sounded.

Other than a few scrums, New Zealand was utterly dominant, although, they never looked to be playing at full speed, rather in second gear throughout.

This was a non-performance that gets coaches sacked; some players should never put on the famous green and gold ever again.

The Boks missed tackles. Malcolm Marx, who was terrible, missed his jumpers, time and again.

Everything went wrong for Eben Etzebeth, the only thing that went right was when he won the toss.

What to say about Raymond Rhule?

Rhule had one of the worst games by a Bok, leading the New Zealand commentators to call for his substitution to save him from himself.

His display echoed Gaffie du Toit’s and David von Hoesslin debut in 1999 at Carisbrook. New Zealand beat South Africa 28-0 – back then, that was considered a rout.

Or Jaco van der Westhuyzen’s nightmare in the 49-0 thrashing against Australia in Brisbane in 2006.

Rieko Ioane missed 15 tackles in Super Rugby, Rhule missed eight in the match. This to go along with the other dozen or so in the Rugby Championship.

His performance was abject. It was career ending, but Coetzee will keep selecting the winger.

The two halfback pairing contrasted like day and night. Compare and contrast Elton Jantjies and Francois Hougaard with Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith; you cannot.

The two All Blacks compare with Dan Carter and Justin Marshall, while the two Springboks compare with, maybe, Du Toit and Von Hoesslin. That is a contrast of note.

Jantjies showed why he is not an international calibre standoff, but he does not pick himself, and anyway, who else is there for South Africa? Which other national teams would Jantjies start for?

The Lions’ standoff’s restarts were baffling, kicking deep, allowing the All blacks space and time to attack.

His defensive co-ordinating was weak, and his distribution, average, while he created nothing in the playmaker’s role.

Hougaard channelled his inner Pierre Spies; another great hype that failed to deliver. His performance was dire, especially being beaten by Coles in the air, which led to Scott Barrett’s try.

He is a calamity waiting to happen, which is why he could not start ahead of Ross Cronje. Hougaard was once seen as a replacement for the great Fourie du Preez. Do me a favour.

The Boks laid an egg, borrowing an NFL term. Not just any egg, a massive goose egg.

However, those who watch Super Rugby, coupled with the decline in South Africa’s national team under Allister Coetzee, will have seen this coming. What a mess. What a shame for world rugby.

Although, it is not all bad: Thank goodness for the All Blacks.

Final Score: New Zealand 57 (31) South Africa 0 (0)

Scorers

New Zealand
Tries – R. Ioane, Milner-Skudder (2), S. Barrett, Rettalick, Tu’ungafasi, Sopoaga, Taylor
Pen – B. Barrett
Con – B. Barrett (7)
Drop –
Cards –

South Africa
Tries –
Pen –
Con –
Drop –
Cards –

Match Officials
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant Ref 1: Angus Gardner (ARU)
Assistant Ref 2: Matthew Carley (RFU)
TMO: George Ayoub (ARU)

Teams

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 (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Kane Hames.

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Thomas Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.

South Africa 

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian de Allende

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3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Springboks regain honour in All Blacks defeat - Super Rugby | Super 15 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby

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