Welcome to SuperXV’s live update of the opening 2022 Rugby Championship Test between South Africa and New Zealand from the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The World Champion Springboks will be looking to take advantage of an out-of-sorts All Blacks, who come to the Republic under immense pressure after losing a first-ever Test series to Ireland (2-1) in July.
- New Zealand has won nine of their last 12 Tests against South Africa (D1, L2). The All Blacks have won each of their last four matches on South African soil; however, their last two such victories have come by margins of two points or fewer.
- South Africa has won six of their last seven Tests on home soil (L1), conceding 20+ points in a match just once – three of their last five wins at home have come after leading at halftime on the day.
- South Africa has won five of their last seven Tests (L2) after losing three in a row previously.
- The Springboks have scored 4+ tries in a game once in seven Tests, leading their opposition at halftime once.
- New Zealand has won just one of their last five Tests (L4).
- The All Blacks have not lost three Tests in a row since a run of five straight defeats between July and August 1998, a sequence which included two defeats against South Africa.
- The All Blacks have lost each of their last two Tests played outside of New Zealand after winning eight of their previous nine (L1).
- The Kiwis have not lost three away matches in a row since a run of three straight defeats between July and August 1998, a run which included a defeat to South Africa (24-23).
Recent stats:
- No Tier One nation averaged a greater share of possession during July’s Test matches than the Boks (57%), while the Springboks also ranked third for percentage of time spent in opposition territory (54.5%).
- South Africa made the fewest knock-ons of any Tier One nation (4), while no side made more knock-ons than New Zealand (13).
- The Kiwis and Saffas ranked joint-first for line breaks amongst Tier One nations (12), with the two sides also ranking second (1,277m) and fifth (1,158m) respectively, for carry metres.
Players to watch
- Damian Willemse ranked in the top five for both metres gained (190m – 3rd) and line breaks (3, =4th) among players from Tier One nations during July’s Tests, while Lood de Jager ranked second for lineout takes (15).
- Ardie Savea was the only player to score three tries against Tier One nations during this year’s July men’s Tests, while Sam Cane made more tackles than any other Rugby Championship player during this period (41), the third most of any Tier One player overall.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
In the meantime, have a look at the match preview.
The electric home crowd drowned out ‘Kapa o Pango’ after two passionate anthems.
PEEEP! We are underway for the first Test between the world’s two rugby powerhouses at a packed – and raucous – Mbombela Stadium. It’s been four years since the last time the All Blacks played the Springboks in the Republic, so expect an intense opening 20 minutes from both teams.
0.35: A dear, Faf de Klerk, back in the starting line up is knocked out cold after his head smashed into Caleb Clarke’s knee. De Klerk is prone on the ground before the medics take him off on the cart. That was a horrible accidental clash.
3.00: South Africa wins a free kick on Kiwi ball after a pre-engage by the visitors before claiming a penalty after Trevor Nyakane pulverised George Bower. Pollard kicked to the 22.
5.00: Kurt-lee Arendse is tackled into touch by the Kiwis’ try line; good defending by the visitors after the Boks’ pressure in their 22.
7.00: Jordie Barrett makes a try-saving tackle on Makazole Mapimpi on the opposite side of the field. The intensity from the hosts is unlike anything we have seen this season against Wales. Scott Barrett knocks the ball on into touch. Boks opt for a scrum.
8.00: TRY! Kurt-lee Arendse beats Beauden Barrett to Handré Pollard’s bomb. Lukhanyo Am won the loose ball and offloaded as he fell in the tackle to the supporting Arendse, who raced away to score in the corner for his first Test try. 5-0
10.00: CONVERSION! Pollard slots the touchline conversion. 7-0
11.00: Jordie Barrett, this time, drops another bomb, this time from Jaden Hendrikse clearing his 22.
12.00: Another scrum penalty to the Boks for two infringements by George Bower near the sideline official.
13.00: Pollard missed his touch. Both teams have possession before the All Blacks are saved by a knock-on.
14.00: The Springboks’ rush-defence is causing havoc, Ian Foster’s men are all over the shop.
16.00: Malcolm Marx knocks on in contact with Sam Cane, that is poor from the hooker.
18.00: Arendse tackles Beauden Barrett and the ball bounces forward off the winger’s head and into touch. Marx’s lineout throw is over the top, and the Kiwis counter-attack; however, Marx makes up for his mistake by winning a penalty at the ruck. What a player!
19.00: The crowd roars the hometown boy as Faf waves to them after returning to the field.
21.00: Jordie Barrett shepherded Jaden Hendrikse’s grubber to touch. New Zealand wins a free kick after Lood de Jager closed the gap. Jordie Barrett clears to halfway. Willemse wins a high ball before Cane is pinged for going off his feet at the breakdown. Pollard calls for the tee.
22.00: PENALTY! Pollard splits the uprights from in front. 10-0
24.00: Pollard claims a high ball before Siya Kolisi wins a dropped high ball from New Zealand. The counter-attack ends with De Allende’s grubber rolling into touch.
27.00: FIRST All Blacks’ chance: Beuaden Barrett dances from his goal line to the halfway line as he kick-starts a winding Kiwis’ counter-attack; however, the ball is passed forward for a Bok scrum. Phew!
28.00: Angus Ta’avao collapses the scrum, and Pollard kicks to the 22. Five penalties to zero.
30.00: Ardie Savea saves the day for New Zealand after an 11-phase attack ends near the try line. Marx did not release and Savea got over the hooker to win his team’s first penalty of the game.
31.00: The second penalty in quick succession after Jasper Wiese went off his feet at the ruck.
33.00: South Africa’s rush defence snuffs out another attack, forcing more handling errors by the Kiwis. [Five penalties to two]
35.00: De Allende is offside at the scrum, Jordie Barrett calls for the tee.
36.00: PENALTY! Barrett puts his side on the board. 10-3
37.00: Arendse loses the restart forward, scrum to the Kiwis inside their half.
38.00: New Zealand wins their first scrum penalty. [five to four]
40.00: Marx gets over the ball to win his second penalty turnover at the ruck. He is having a game. [six to four]
41.00: Pollard boots the ball to touch, he’s had enough.
The halftime score was Springboks 10 All Blacks 3
PEEEP! We are back underway in the Republic.
43.00: The Boks start well again, but New Zealand win abck possession and clear.
45.00: Steven Kitshoff wins a turnover and Willemse grubbers to the Kiwis’ 22.
48.00: It’s helter-skelter at the beginning of the second stanza. The Boks are all over the Kiwis, who are camped inside their half.
51.00: PENALTY! Pollard extends after Lomax collapsed a scrum. 13-3
53.00: Marx leaves the field after making his fourth turnover, three of which ended with Bok penalties. What a 50th Test.
56.00: David Havili pins the Boks on their line with a good grubber, but Akira Ioane gives away a needless penalty for offside.
57.00: Clarke loses a contested high ball with Arendse before Steven Kitshoff intercepted a loose pass.
58.00: DROP-GOAL! Pollard slots a goal from in front after the Kiwis turned over possession near their 22. 16-3
60.00: Scott Barrett is offside, that’s the 10th penalty given away by Foster’s men.
62.00: Bower closes the gap at the lineout, the Boks opt for a scrum; however, the Kiwis win a clearing penalty at the ruck.
65.00: Clarke is tackled into touch by Arendse, who is killing his opposite winger.
68.00: The All Blacks are hanging around here, anything can happen in the final moments.
71.00: Am wins a penalty at the ruck after New Zealand’s lethargic attack is blunted.
73.00: PENALTY! Pollard makes no mistake from wide. 19-3
75.00: RED CARD! Arendse is sent off for taking out Beauden Barrett in the air. Both players are down, this looks bad for both. 19-3
78.00: TRY! Shannon Frizell dots down in the corner. 19-8
79.00: CONVERSION! Richie Mo’unga adds the extras. 19-10
80.00: TRY! Sam Cane’s loose pass is dropped by Frizell, and Willie Le Roux toes ahead before gathering to dot down the winner next to the posts. Scenes! 24-10
81.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 26-10
Full Time
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The final score is South Africa 26 (10) New Zealand 10 (3)
Scorers
South Africa
Tries – Arendse, Le Roux
Pen – Pollard (3)
Con – Pollard (2)
Drop – Pollard
Cards – Arendse (Red, 75′)
New Zealand
Tries – Frizell
Pen – J. Barrett
Con – Mo’unga
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
Assistant Ref 1: Luke Pearce (ENG)
Assistant Ref 2: Christophe Ridley (ENG)
TMO: Brett Cronan (AUS)
Teams
South Africa
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois De Klerk , 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Trevor Nyakane
Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Albertus Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Willie le Roux
New Zealand
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Samson Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Quinn Tupaea
