Opponents of the XV of France on September 8 in the opening match of the World Cup, the All Blacks sent the Habs a clear and clear message: after two years during which they lined up sometimes mediocre performances, they have become dominant again. Saturday, in Auckland, during this second day of the Rugby Championship, the South African world champions paid the price, and it would be enough to watch the first quarter of an hour of this clash at the top to be convinced of the comeback. Sam Cane’s teammates.
Two tries (Aaron Smith in 5th, Shannon Frizell in 15th) after long-term actions and a penalty goal (10th) signed Richar Mo’unga: the New Zealanders were already leading 17-0 when the Springboks did not hadn’t touched the ball once. Faced with the vivacity of their opponents, they had missed many tackles and had to wait until the 22nd minute to finally get into action. And again, on their highlights (26th, 40th, 40th + 2), they were unable to cross the hermetic defensive curtain kiwi.
In the lead, 20-3, at the start of the second period, the All Blacks contented themselves with occupying the field on foot while after bringing in their replacements (Snyman, Marx, Du Toit, Vermeulen, Williams), the South Africans, more toned, put their hooker Malcolm Marx in orbit (54th) on a ball carried behind penalty touch then unmarked winger Cheslin Kolbe (62nd) with a long pass to reduce the score (23-15).
The reaction was then as sharp as it was immediate: multiplying the playing times, the All Blacks found a space wide thanks to a millimeter pass from their back Beauden Barrett in the position of opener for the right winger Will Jordan (69th ), just to replace the Springboks at a distance (30-15), before sealing this clear success with a fourth try signed Richard Mo’Unga who left in the closed side behind scrum (77th, 35-15). Even if the Springboks embarked on a last stand punctuated by their third try, planted by Kwagga Smith (80th, 35-20).
