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All Blacks losing run goes on as Boks dominate RC opener
By AAP
Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse scored his first international try but was then sent off as South Africa piled more misery on struggling New Zealand with a comfortable 26-10 victory in their Rugby Championship opener.
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The Springboks were more dominant at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday than the scoreline suggests.
They bossed the set-piece and breakdown, with hooker Malcolm Marx particularly devastating in his 50th test.
Replacement back Willie le Roux also crossed for a try and fly-half Handre Pollard kicked 17 points for the home side.
It was South Africa’s biggest win over the All Blacks since 1928, despite finishing the game with 14 players after Arendse was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the air after 75 minutes.
New Zealand managed a late try through flanker Shannon Frizell, but it is a fifth defeat in their last six tests. The result will pile more pressure on head coach Ian Foster, especially as they never looked like winning.
“The Springboks threw a hell of a lot at us, we did quite well to absorb it but it took a lot out of us. They kept applying pressure, especially at the breakdown and that disrupted a lot of our flow,” All Blacks captain Sam Cane said.
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“We’re bitterly disappointed, it really hurts. We must get better at the breakdown and the contestables (in the air). I can’t ask any more of the team in terms of the belief and the effort. It is just small margins at this level.”
New Zealand made too many unforced errors with stray passes and knock-ons from carries and will have to show a vast improvement ahead of the second Rugby Championship match-up between the two sides at Ellis Park in Johannesburg next Saturday.
The Boks crossed for the first try on eight minutes as Pollard kicked a high ball that was not collected by All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett and Lukanya Am sent Arendse away to dot down in the corner.
New Zealand got their first points in the 36th minute, with their first scoring opportunity. Jordie Barrett land ed a penalty from in front and they will have been relieved to go into the break only 10-3 down.
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Pollard landed two more penalties and a drop-goal, but Arendse’s red card with five minutes remaining gave the visitors a chance.
They scored a try after a superb break from wing Caleb Clarke, playing his first test in two years, was finished by Frizell.
But the Boks had the last say as Le Roux crossed for an easy score after another loose All Blacks pass in their own 22 provided him the opportunity.
“It was a grind, exactly what we wanted. We wanted to match them up front,” Bok captain Siya Kolisi said.
“We were good with the high balls, we kept it as structured as possible and we had the discipline to make the tackles.
“Malcolm (Marx) was brilliant, every time there was a ruck he seemed to come up with the ball. He has been a big player for Springbok rugby for some time.”
Cannot wait to hear from Ben Smith. Am sure that he will blame the Boks for something and have a pile of excuses why the ABs didn’t win.
Decent game...But for a great game - you need 2 teams to pitch up though. Boks were totally dominant...but as expected left the door open and with about 12mins to go the All Blacks were still in with a shout.
The Red card ...gave the All Blacks a try that flattered to deceive... I Can not remember the last time before this year, when an All Blacks side lacked such penetration and lack of imagination.
Their forwards are not up to standard for a top 3 team...as a result the backline will naturally suffer...but regardless, that backline is a poor imitation of the great All Blacks sides of old...
The once invincible, ruthless, All Black machine is barely grunting... Truth be told its been coming..since the Lions Tours a few years back...that and constant muddling with the Super Rugby format, throw in the big money pull of Europe and the "kids these days just dont wana play rugby" excuse...
The world is a different world post-covid..... Great for the other unions but I do feel a bit of sadness seeing a once untouchable foe stuggling aimlessly and heading into games like lambs to the slaughter.
Who was it who said watching South Africa play rugby sent him to sleep?