A second half masterclass earned New Zealand a breathtaking 16-33 victory in the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. The script was going about as expected in the first half, with the teams trading blows for a 13-12 South Africa lead.
While the Springboks looked composed and happy to take any points on offer in that opening 40, the visitors’ attack was causing some issues, while Jordie Barrett saved the day defensively with a try-saving tackle on Malcolm Marx.
From there, however, it was largely one-way traffic, with the All Blacks producing a couple of game-changing plays, starting with Fabian Holland’s try early in the second half. The towering lock charged down Grant Williams’ box kick attempt to stroll in for a try to see the All Blacks take the lead and set the tone for the remaining 30 minutes of play. The other pivotal moment came less than 10 minutes later, with the newly-substituted front row of Asafo Aumua, George Bower and Fletcher Newell winning a huge scrum penalty on their own goal line, before Luke Jacobson scored moments later to break the game wide open.
Rassie Erasmus will be bitterly disappointed with his team’s performance, particularly on attack. From 10 entries into NZ’s 22, the Springboks scored just one try and looked one-dimensional. Even with their early set piece dominance, South Africa never found a way to truly crack the visitors’ defence and that’s going to need improvement heading into the second Test. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was disappointing at first five-eighth, as the Springboks regularly failed to convert their chances, Williams was constantly targeted defensively and the Boks’ loosies looked a step slow, despite a busy running night from Jasper Wiese.
Crucially on that point, Siya Kolisi is set to make his return from a hamstring injury to start at openside, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been dropped to the bench and Williams has left the squad thanks to an ankle injury, seeing Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard form a new 9-10 combo. Cheslin Kolbe is the other injury-enforced change, seeing Ethan Hooker come into the starting team.
For New Zealand, Leroy Carter and Simon Parker are the two new faces in the starting team, coming in at the expense of Josh Moorby and Ethan de Groot. Patrick Tuipulotu and Xavier Numia also join the bench, making it a rather dynamic All Blacks 23.
We are set for a ripper of a Test in Cape Town and I am expecting a much more polished South Africa team on Sunday morning. The Springboks will surely be more clinical at converting their chances, following their 60% territory and 10 entries into NZ’s 22 last week, and I expect the result to flip on its head in the second Test. Kolisi’s return will inspire a much more determined effort, especially from the Boks’ pack, and the Springboks will simply execute better to level the series.
Best
South Africa -5.5 ($1.90)
Value
South Africa 1-12 ($2.70)
Try Scorer
Malcolm Marx ($12 First, $2.30)
Same Game Multi
Malcolm Marx Try / Cam Roigard Try / Jasper Wiese Try ($18.97)
