Sun 9 Oct 2016 | 05:32
New Zealand score 45 second half points to CRUSH South Africa

8
Comments

The All Blacks put in a rampant second half performance to blow the Springboks out of a Rugby Championship contest that was evenly matched on the scoreboard at halftime. When the black machine kicked into gear, they achieved a record 57-15 victory.

In reality the home side were always just hanging on in that first half, applying good pressure but never really looking like threatening the tryline.

The thumping, the highest score margin even between the two rivals, means that New Zealand have now won 17 Tests in a row, equalling the record that they have held twice before, and South Africa once. A victory over Australia in two weeks time could mean they set a record that few teams will be able to realistically challenge for some time to come.

The All Blacks finished the Rugby Championship with a perfect clean sweep of six wins from six, all bonus point victories. In a year when they are supposedly rebuilding after losing a number of huge stars, the future looks bright, while everyone else has a lot of catching up to do.

The Springboks were their own worst enemy at times though, making some poor decisions tactically and missing first time tackles all too regularly. Their defence wasn't up to standard and attack looked stammered and rudderless.

While Morne Steyn did his job with the boot, it wasn't enough as the Boks lacked the confidence and perhaps mental edge to physically dominate the opposition - usually their strongest asset - and failed to back themselves when they had rare opportunities to set up driving mauls.

On the flip side, their simply isn't a team on the planet right now - except maybe the Fijian 7s side in that format - that can match this New Zealand team for skill and execution.

They took tiny chances and turned them into points, punishing the home side for turnovers, poor tactical kicking and some ill discipline late in the game, after a frustrated looking dangerous clearout. 

It was a dark, pitch black day for Springbok rugby, the likes of which fans are starting to get used to.

8 Comments

  • danknapp
    5:13 PM 11/10/2016

    To be fair, Perenara is renowned for his following-up...

  • drg
    8:47 AM 11/10/2016

    ...Hahahaha, oh dear, hadn't even considered how what I wrote could be taken!

  • stroudos
    9:20 PM 10/10/2016

    Now that *would* make a scandalous tabloid story...

  • stroudos
    9:18 PM 10/10/2016

    A quite brilliant suggestion, but I suspect these sides would quickly achieve #1 and #2 spots on the ranking.

  • drg
    11:12 AM 10/10/2016

    Aaron Smith accidentally left the door open and Perenara walked right in and made himself at home! Great effort. Well done to the AB's, solid tournament!

    Boks are concerning.

  • whiteafrican
    10:30 AM 10/10/2016

    The (first) Parenara try was highly doubtful, but you can see why the ref gave it (the TMO just agreed with the ref's interpretation). The ball can move forward along the ground as long as its under the player's control. It would be a knock on if he had lost control. The ref ruled that his hand never lost contact with the ball (which is true) but seems insufficient to justify the conclusion that it was under his control. As Justin Marshall said in live commentary, you can't control the ball with the back of one hand.

  • luc
    12:01 AM 10/10/2016

    Still not 62-13, though France did get a try in before the end. Damn those are some painful games.

  • 10stonenumber10
    8:36 PM 09/10/2016

    ...what the hell South Africa? I thought you were cool.




    There is only one thing for it. Any self respecting rugby player must go and dump/divorce their significant other immediately and go marry a French man or woman. In the hierarchy of heritages, they are the only people to fell the All Blacks when it mattered. One country triumphing over an entire hemisphere of talent, scientific proof that the Gauls have the most potent rugby DNA this planet has to offer.

    We owe it to every non kiwi out there. Let's make this sport fair again.