By Nick Powell, Online Editor
New Zealand…………………….7
Tries: Roigard 71
Conversions: Mo’unga 72
South Africa……………………..35
Tries: Kolisi 18, Arendse 34, Marx 41, Mbonambi 59, Smith 67
Conversions: Libbok 19, 35, 43, 61, 69
South Africa showed how hard they will be to dethrone as World Champions as they inflicted New Zealand’s biggest ever defeat in test rugby at Twickenham.
After completely dominating an opening quarter in which their opponents conceded eight penalties, South Africa struck through skipper Siya Kolisi before Kurt Lee-Arendse picked off Jordie Barrett’s attempted offload ten minutes later.
Jordie’s brother Scott saw the second of two yellow cards shortly before the break to reduce the All Blacks to 14 for the rest of the contest, and Will Jordan had a try ruled out to keep the gap between the two sides at the same number at half-time.
It took Malcolm Marx just 66 second half seconds to extend the lead after a lineout move followed Beauden Barrett’s poor early crossfield kick, and Marx’s replacement Bongi Mbonambi took the lead out to a record margin.
And though Cam Roigard scored a stunning late consolation, Kwagga Smith’s earlier score meant the 28-point loss surpassed the two 21-point defeats New Zealand suffered to Australia in 1999 and 2018 as their biggest ever.
Roared on by a mostly South African crowd who gave Twickenham its best atmosphere in the post-Covid era, the Springboks dominated the early proceedings with three New Zealand lineout infringements allowing them to set up camp deep in All Black territory.
South Africa spurned chances to make an early breakthrough, as Pieter Steph Du Toit was held up before Faf de Klerk fumbled at the base of a ruck with teammates queuing up to score, and after Sam Whitelock’s lineout turnover it looked as if New Zealand were finally in the clear.
But fellow lock Scott Barrett carelessly impeded de Klerk to hand South Africa field position once again and earn himself a yellow card, and 14 All Blacks soon became 13 as Sam Cane joined Barrett in the bin for side entry at the resulting lineout drive.
Marx became the second man held up for South Africa, but captain Kolisi made it third-time lucky after it was initially thought he too had been held up prior to a TMO review.
New Zealand were presented with the chance to cut the gap as Richie Mo’unga lined up a simple penalty almost straight from the restart, but his attempt somehow hit the post, and South Africa cleared their lines with ease.
But with New Zealand returned to a full compliment, they were finally able to go toe-to-toe with the reigning World Champions.
Regardless of shirt number, New Zealand’s players were constantly finding ways to offload, although they were given a warning for overplaying as Canan Moodie intercepted off Ardie Savea and brilliantly fed Damien Willemse who kicked through.
And they failed to heed that warning as Jordie Barrett’s day got worse when he offloaded straight to Arendse, with Libbok doubling South Africa’s lead after the winger touched down under the posts.
The misery for the Barrett brothers continued in the lead up to half-time, and New Zealand’s hopes suffered a huge blow as Scott earned himself another braindead yellow card for a dangerous clearout on Malcolm Marx to suffer the rarest of red cards in rugby, one caused by receiving two yellows.
The All Blacks nightmare half was complete as Jordan saw his try chalked off after neat team play, with fellow winger Mark Talea found to have knocked on in the build-up.
Immediately from the restart New Zealand found themselves on the back foot, and Barrett’s desperate crossfield clearance gave South Africa a chance to increase their lead straight away.
And a smart training park move from the lineout stretched the Springboks lead to 19, before Mannie Libbok – who kicked superbly in both open play and off the tee – continued his 100 per cent record with a brilliant conversion from the corner.
South Africa almost instantly had their fourth when Moodie got what would’ve been a well-deserved try as he broke clear and beat Barrett and Mo’unga to coast over, but he was found to be in an offside position when he collected the ball.
But the Springboks eventually got their fourth as Mbonambi grounded from the back of a maul, before Smith peeled away from another to put them 35 in front.
And although Roigard wriggled through and broke away superbly to snatch a Kiwi consolation, they spurned late opportunities to land on the receiving end of their record reverse.
Player ratings by Ben Jaycock
NEW ZEALAND: B Barrett 5, Jordan 6 (Lienert-Brown 63, 6), R Ioane 5, J Barrett 4, Telea 6, Mo’unga 5.5, Smith 6 (Roigard 61, 8); de Groot 6 (Williams 51), Coles 6 (Taukei’aho 41), Lomax 6 (Newell 14, 6), Whitelock 5, S Barrett 3, Jacobson 5 (Vaa’i 40), Cane (c) 5 (Papali’i 63, 6), Savea 6
SOUTH AFRICA: Willemse 8.5, Arendse 8, Moodie 8.5, Esterhuizen 8.5, Mapimpi 7 (Reinach 63, 6.5), Libbok 9, de Klerk 8.5; Kitshoff 7.5 (Nche 47, 7), Marx 8 (Mbonambi 47, 8), Malherbe 7.5 (Nyakane 47, 7), Etzebeth 8 (Kleyn 47, 7), Mostert 8 (Snyman 47, 7), Kolisi (c) 8 (van Staden 47, 7), du Toit 7, Vermeulen 7.5 (Smith 47, 7.5)
Referee: Matthew Carley
Attendance: 80,827
Star man: Manie Libbok – South Africa
Half time: 0-14
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