The Springboks showed immense character and revealed their incredible depth to smash the All Blacks 43-10 in Wellington, a record-breaking result that left Australia on top of The Rugby Championship standings two-thirds the way through an exhilarating tournament.
Having lost four players in the first half, then two-try hero Cheslin Kolbe, the Boks showed the full force of their power in a thoroughly deserved victory. It was carnage at the Cake Tin.
After the Wallabies claimed two bonus points in their loss to Argentina earlier in Saturday, they went ahead of the All Blacks on the table, and will stay there ahead of their Bledisloe Cup double against an All Blacks team that had much of their aura smacked out of them by the Springboks in Wellington.
Australia are on 11 points, South Africa and New Zealand on 10 and Argentina on nine with all four teams having two wins and two losses. The downgrading of TRC next year is a crying shame.
As good as the Boks were, the All Blacks were poor outside of one brilliant team try in the first half. The 33-point margin was the All Blacks’ worst-ever loss.
There will be plenty of gnashing of teeth and questions of Scott Robertson’s men ahead of the Bledisloe Cup, where the Wallabies must give themselves every chance of ending a 23-year drought.
Recriminations began straight after the siren.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” said All Blacks captain Scott Barrett of the team’s historic loss.
“The Springboks certainly showed up and took a real improvement from last week and we didn’t adjust. Well done to Siya [Kolisi] and his team.
Asked what the main areas of concern were, Barrett responded: “I think across the board, our scrum was under pressure. We had limited opportunities and I think the Boks really took theirs.”
All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina was stunned by what he saw.
“I still think they were in the game with 15 minutes or so to go,” he said. “It blew out in the end, and what concerns me is that it almost seems like they gave up.
“It’s not really the sight that you like seeing from the All Blacks, but you have to give it to South Africa. I mean, they came out of the second half, they put on some pressure, they demanded everything in the second half, and basically blew the All Blacks away.”
Former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read said the Boks, beaten last week at Eden Park, were “outstanding.
“They just soaked up that pressure that the All Blacks did try to put on them, for most of that first half especially, and then in the second half, they just got a roll on, and they just kept going, kept going.
“You’ve got to look at the All Blacks side and go, OK, there’s something not right there. There’s something within that group, when you’re able just to leak and leak [points]. Where’s that spine that we want to see? 43-10, that is an absolute hiding. And who would have picked Australia on top after four rounds? I wouldn’t have.”
All Blacks legend Justin Marshall praised the Boks.
“What a performance by the Springboks,” he said
“The accuracy, the intent to play. No one can argue about their game plan, the way they wanted to play.
“They have shown the ability that they are not just a team that plays territory, they have some strike power in their backline and they can play with pace and tempo that can put a score on like that against the All Blacks at home.
“Quite incredible.”
The game was a war of attrition in the first half with the Springboks suffering four injuries in a frantic opening 40 minutes, while the All Blacks lost Noah Hotham inside the first 10 minutes.
The scrumhalf was back in the team after an ankle injury and he limped off after being crushed in a tackle. Hotham failed his HIA but looked unlikely to return in any case.
The Boks lost Lood de Jager at the same time as Hotham, then Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was forced off and also failed a HIA, replaced by Manie Libbok at No.10.
The Boks had started in a blur and Kolbe was denied a try by a brilliant Jordie Barrett try-saver. RG Snyman, on for De Jager, celebrated a try on 11 minutes. The extra were added as well before the TMO chimed in after spotting a clear knock on in the build up by Boks No.9 Cobus Reinach.
Having come close twice, the Boks conceded first – a sparkling team try from the All Blacks finished off by debutant winger Leroy Carter.
The ball was swept from side to side, with a Jordie Barrett cross kick, a cheeky flick pass from Simon Parker, and some No.10 style catch and pass from prop Ethan de Groot in the lead up to Carter’s magic moment.
The All Blacks were ascendent and looked most likely to score next before Kolbe snuck up into the line and snaffled a loose pass from Billy Proctor. He raced 80 metres and this time did enough to stay out of Jordie Barrett’s reach.
A Damian McKenzie penalty restored a 10-7 lead for the hosts before Boks fullback Aphelele Fassi and then Reinach were forced off, although the scrumhalf was able to return after passing his HIA.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus changed his props less than two minutes into the second half – and the new crew maintained the visitors’ scrum dominance.
Moments after the change they hit the front off the back of a fabulous surging run from Siya Kolisi. The All Blacks managed to bring him to ground but a quick ball found Kolbe on the right – the twinkle toed winger beat his defeder with a sharp step and after Libbok converted, the Boks led 14-10.
A 46th minute Libbok penalty extended the lead but the Boks suffered yet another blow – Kolbe failing a HIA and the team thankful they have a break before facing the Pumas.
Kolisi was removed on the 58 minutes and the Boks didn’t miss a beat. They survived a lineout near their line when Wallace Sititi was penalised for obstruction, then took the ball the length of the field with scrambling All Blacks defence forcing their Canan Moodie into touch as he tried to pick up a grubber and force a try.
From the lineout Ruan Nortje picked off Brodie McAlister’s throw and with momentum in the last five metres the Boks would not be denied, Damian Willemse crashing over. Libbok’s conversion made it a two converted try margin and left the All Blacks, who have pedigree at clawing back deficits, a mountain to climb.
Instead it was the Boks who stepped it up, showing no sign of apprehension, storming to the finish line.
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