Reigning champions South Africa accomplished their World Cup preparations with a file 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand because the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.
The Springboks scored 5 tries, by captain Siya Kolisi, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith – all transformed by fly-half Manie Libbok.
New Zealand prevented the embarrassment of being ‘nilled’ 9 minutes from time when alternative again Cam Roigard ran in a transformed strive from some 70 metres out after gathering a unfastened ball.
The defeat, nevertheless, topped the 21-point loss the All Blacks suffered when taking place 47-26 to Australia in 2019.
This consequence additionally noticed South Africa high their earlier successful margin in opposition to arch rivals New Zealand achieved in a 17-0 success at Durban again in 1928.
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New Zealand’s destiny was all however sealed after they needed to play simply over half the match a person down after Scott Barrett was despatched off shortly earlier than the break for a second yellow card, with the lock flying right into a ruck and clattering Marx within the head.
The Springbok pack had been in dominant kind in what was the primary match between the arch rivals at Twickenham for the reason that All Blacks gained 20-18 in a 2015 World Cup semi-final earlier than lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy.
“It was a very good start for us, a great performance by the team,” South Africa fullback Damian Willemse, Friday’s participant of the match, instructed Sky Sports.
“This will give us some momentum going into the Rugby World Cup. I am the man of the match, but credit to the forwards, they put in a hell of a shift tonight.”
New Zealand captain Sam Cane, who like Scott Barrett acquired a first-half yellow card, added: “There is no denying, we are really disappointed with how we performed tonight. At the same time, a lot of credit has to go to the way the Boks played, they were really dominant in all facets.
“Our discipline really hurt us and their ability to dominate scrum, maul, line out and set piece made it really hard for us to get anything going.
“It certainly stings, it hurts. It is a game we are going to have to learn a lot from.
“We are going to have to learn quickly, but I would much rather we have it now than in a few weeks’ time.”
Depending on pool outcomes, the rugby superpowers may meet once more within the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
New Zealand launch the showpiece match in opposition to hosts and fellow heavyweights France on September 8, with South Africa starting the defence of their title in opposition to Scotland in Marseille on September 10.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
