South Africa’s record 35-7 blitz of New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday night showed that the reigning world champions have the clout to keep the crown.
The fiercely contested warm-up match has tilted the 2023 World Cup axis in South Africa’s favour, as has the formidable forward power – magnified by a new 7-1 ‘bomb squad’ bench split – that saw them dominate the All Black pack.
However, with three of their five tries scored in a second-half in which NZ were reduced to 14 men after lock Scott Barrett’s diving clear-out made contact with SA hooker
Malcolm Marx’s head, it would be unwise for ...