All Blacks get the job done against the Boks to take firm control of Pool B
New Zealand fired an ominous warning of their grim focus to secure a record third-straight World Cup crown by grinding past South Africa 23-13 in Yokohama.
The back-to-back world champion All Blacks fended off everything a turbo-charged Cheslin Kolbe and the Springboks could throw at them, powering to an opening victory at times prosaic in style – but every inch foreboding for their foes.
George Bridge and Scott Barrett bagged New Zealand’s tries, with Richie Mo’unga slotting 10 points with the boot. Beauden Barrett also notched a penalty of his own.
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks tore into New Zealand from the off, appeared to have punched themselves out after 20 minutes, then rose from the canvas for another flurry of combinations after the break.
Toulouse speed merchant Kolbe stormed, stalked and danced his way through, round and over the All Blacks defence – but crucially could not quite provide a finish.
(Continue reading below…)
The marauding wing finished the match nursing a possible leg injury to heap misery on a frustrating night that had positively oozed promise from the moment he latched onto the ball for the first time in the second half.
New Zealand hardly excelled here, and Beauden Barrett’s move to full-back continues to polarise opinion, and perhaps fail to convince. But boss Steve Hansen likes his All Blacks to build into tournaments, and his back line that finished the match – with Beauden Barrett at 10, Sonny Bill Williams in the centre and Ben Smith at full-back – will no doubt prove the starting combination for knockout clashes.
A watching Ireland can draw one clear conclusion from this engaging if at times sloppy contest – Joe Schmidt’s men will have to crank up their own level significantly to defeat either of these teams. Ireland will face one of New Zealand or South Africa should they reach the quarter-finals and after this, the size of the task in store for the knockout stages has been laid bare.
Follow our match centre here | https://t.co/qlINi4qCtL #NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/ou50GMdprz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
For all of South Africa’s doubtless frustration in defeat however, both these teams are surely bound for the quarter-finals, whereupon their real assault on the Japan tournament will begin in earnest.
South Africa’s breakneck start rattled a curiously disjointed New Zealand. The Springboks flew off the defensive line with startling speed, hustling their way to a quick 3-0 lead thanks to a Pollard penalty. The Blue Bulls fly-half struck the post with a second effort off the tee, failing with a regulation shot – and after that traffic reversed.
Erasmus’ men only wound up blitzing themselves with that super-aggressive line speed. The Boks effectively ran out of steam in the first quarter. Ailing limbs led to misplaced passes, and New Zealand pounced. First Makazole Mapimpi was hugely fortunate to escape a yellow card for killing the ball just five metres out, with Mo’unga banging over the penalty.
Then Bridge slid home after lightning raids from Sevu Reece, Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett. And when Scott Barrett cantered home just before the half-hour, New Zealand had total supremacy. Or so they thought. Suddenly the crowd burst into a Mexican Wave, and Kolbe snapped to it almost in a fit of anger – and the game set on fire.
See you in a few weeks… #RugbyWorldCup #NZLvsRSA pic.twitter.com/EJ7jsPMtiG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
Somehow Mo’unga denied Kolbe a stunning score at the last, but the All Blacks lost possession on their counter-attack. And flanker Du Toit flopped home to drag the Boks back into the equation. Pollard’s conversion – and then a finely crafted and equally well-struck drop-goal – dragged Erasmus’ men to within four points of the back-to-back world champions.
Mo’unga quickly slotted a penalty to restore the seven-point All Black advantage, before Barrett posted a three-pointer of his own. Kolbe bobbed, weaved and sneaked around defenders time and again at the death, but to no avail.
The Boks will hope he has not suffered a serious injury, because the fast-rising star has the potential to be the most destructive player in this competition.
– Press Association
WATCH: The trailer for the new RugbyPass documentary, Tonga: Road To Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments