Boks hammer All Blacks in record win
MATCH REPORT: The Springboks recorded their biggest win over the All Blacks at the Wellington Regional Stadium by defeating their arch rivals by 43-10.
South Africa bettered their 2023 record against the All Blacks at Twickenham when they won 35-7. The defeat also marked New Zealand’s biggest loss at home against any nation.
The result will also see the Boks return to No.1 in the world and retain the Freedom Cup after winning it in Cape Town last year.
The Boks faced many challenges during the match, losing Cheslin Kolbe, Aphelele Fassi, and Lood de Jager early on, yet managed to grow throughout the match and continued to gel as the clock ticked.
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The Boks made a fast start as New Zealand lost the ball from the kick-off and showed their intent to run the ball from the opening minute.
The Boks won a penalty in the process and opted for the corner two minutes into the match, but as the wobbles were in Auckland, the line-out was lost, as was the scoring opportunity.
South Africa won a penalty on halfway for a side entry by Tyral Lomax, but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the kick to touch.
There will be concerns regarding Lood de Jager, who went off limping in the ninth minute and was replaced by RG Snyman.
The Boks won a penalty advantage and attacked down the blindside through a kick by Feinberg-Mngomezulu as Cheslin Kolbe got the ball and looked to be in, but the ball was lost in the tackle by Jordie Barrett, and they went back to the penalty.
New Zealand conceded a free kick at the line-out, and the Boks took a quick tap through Cobus Reinach.
They built the phases with the forwards and RG Snyman barged over for the opening try, but then a TMO check was called for after the conversion.
A knock-on by Cobus Reinach was ruled, and the try was chalked off Snyman’s as the match remained scoreless after 12 minutes.
The All Blacks started finding space in the wide spaces, having the Boks scrambling on defence.
It felt almost inevitable when New Zealand went coast to coast before finding debutant Lee Roy Carter, who dotted down for the opening score in the 18th minute, which Damian McKenzie converted.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu went off for an HIA and was replaced by Manie Libbok after the Carter try.
There were shades of 2018 when Kolbe intercepted to score the try from the same side of the field and scored the Boks’ opening try as Libbok slotted the conversion in the 25th minute.
Malcolm Marx conceded a penalty for hands in the ruck in front of the posts, and McKenzie stepped up to reclaim the lead for the All Blacks in the 29th minute.
The Boks had an opportunity to strike back after some good interplay, but a knock-on by Marx in the New Zealand red zone made it all undone.
A penalty for the All Blacks against the run of play for a neck roll gave the hosts an attacking line-out, but they made a mess of it as Willemse stepped up to get his side out of trouble.
A third injury replacement was made when Aphelele Fassi went off injured on a medical cart in the 37th minute, which appeared to be an ankle issue and was replaced by Andre Esterhuizen, which required a backline reshuffle.
The Boks had ample attacking opportunities before the end of the first half, but handling errors made it all undone.
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Reinach made his return in the second half after passing his HIA.
The Boks won a scrum penalty early in the second half on halfway, 15 metres in from touch.
Siya Kolisi made a brilliant break before Esterhuizen went wide to Kolbe, who bagged a brace in the 43rd minute. Libbok slotted the conversion from touch.
Kolbe made a break, and the All Blacks were penalised for a tackle off the ball.
Kolbe received medical attention after taking a hit from Tupou Vaa’i and was replaced by Grant Williams in the 46th minute.
Libbok lined up the penalty kick to the boos and jeers from the Wellington crowd, but struck it beautifully to edge out a seven-point lead for the Boks in the 47th minute.
A penalty to New Zealand in the 57th minute saw time called off by referee Nika Amashukeli, warning both captains that their teams should improve their discipline.
The All Blacks opted for the line-out but were penalised for double banking as the Boks got out of jail.
Ruan Nortje stole a line-out ball on the All Blacks’ five-metre line, and they opted to play wide after bashing it up initially.
Willemse got a cut-out ball from Libbok and powered his way over the line in the 61st minute. Libbok slotted the conversion.
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Will Jordan kicked the ball dead from his own 22 metre area and gifted the Boks and an attacking scrum in the 64th minute, but the penalty went the way of New Zealand on the Boks’ feed.
Ethan Hooker made a brilliant break from inside his own half, which led to Libbok nailing one of his trademark crossfield kicks to Pieter Steph du Toit, who offloaded to Kwagga Smith, who went over in the 69th minute. Libbok missed the conversion.
The Boks won a breakdown penalty moments later and Libbok set the line-out five from the line, but the throw was lost as Fabian Holland stole it.
A contestable kick won by Canan Moodie saw the Boks penetrate forward before RG Snyman ran a beautiful line to seal the match with a try in the 73rd minute as Libbok slotted the conversion.
New Zealand won a penalty for offside and opted for the line-out. They attacked wide, and it seemed that Jordan was in for all money, but a cover tackle by Grant Williams had him ground the ball short and lost it forward.
Willemse set Williams up down the wing, who set Esterhuizen up for the nail in the coffin and kept their Rugby Championship hopes alive.
Player of the match: Damian Willemse had a blinder, but our award goes to Cheslin Kolbe. The speedster brought the Boks back in the game with his intercept try, and worked hard off the ball until he was forced to go off with an injury.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Carter
Cons: McKenzie
Pens: McKenzie
For South Africa:
Tries: Kolbe 2, Willemse, Smith, Snyman, Esterhuizen
Cons: Libbok 5
Pens: Libbok
Teams
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Ruben Love.
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
