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Both sets of All Blacks and Springboks management, players and fans would have circled the 6th September date for this game when it was first announced, but it was the hosts who extended the remarkable Eden Park record to 51 undefeated games as the All Blacks were smarter and more clinical than the visitors in the 24-17 win.
Narawa (1'), Jordan (16'), Tupaea (66')
Tries
Marx (61'), Reinach (73')
Barrett (2'), McKenzie (17', 67')
Conversions
Feinberg-Mngomezulu (62', 74')
McKenzie (50')
Penalties
Pollard (22')
Both sets of All Blacks and Springboks management, players and fans would have circled the 6th September date for this game when it was first announced, but it was the hosts who extended the remarkable Eden Park record to 51 undefeated games as the All Blacks were smarter and more clinical than the visitors in the 24-17 win.
‘Fortress defended’. The two simple words across the All Blacks' social media after the final whistle. The win also meant that the All Blacks moved further ahead on the World Rugby rankings, and South Africa has now slipped to third.
The win for New Zealand, which was layered in potential records and record-breakers, meant it was a first win for them over the world champions in five matches, and it also kept this enthralling Rugby Championship wide open after Australia narrowly defeated Argentina (well after the clock) earlier in the day.
What would be a worry in that loss for the Boks is again question marks being raised about some of their more experienced campaigners. It was a game with so much hype that it was unlikely ever to match, but Erasmus and his brain trust have probably got the player cycle right in terms of blooding new players two years out from defending the World Cup in Australia.
It was the 109th match between the All Blacks and Springboks, and it was Ardie Savea in his 100th match who had the final say in the armwrestle of an encounter in the wet conditions in Auckland.
The seven-point margin means it was only one point more than the 9 wins by six points or less in the past 15 matchups between the two. It was not always full of quality, but the sheer number of HIA checks and injuries told of the physical nature of this battle between the two fierce rivals.
Emoni Narawa started the game perfectly for the All Blacks with a spectacular try after a pinpoint cross-field kick, before he left the field minutes later. The first in a long list of casualties. It was also one of a smattering of key small moments that determined the outcome of the game.
The second try was a well-worked lineout move to try machine Will Jordan after a missed tackle from Malcolm Marx. The hooker had one of his worst games in the green for SA, but so many of their veteran squad were below their usual standards and the costliest at giving away penalties.
Ox Nche was miraculously held up over the try line by Rieko Loane, the yellow card for Kwagga Smith towards the end, that scrum which decimated the All Blacks pack on their own feed and led to the Bok try, and the steal by Savea to end the game. Small moments, big outcomes.
Quinn Tupaea’s third try for the hosts 13 minutes from time, after Smith’s yellow card, looked to have sealed it, but the South Africans never gave up as Cobus Reinach scored the Boks second try to be within a converted try in the final minutes. The hosts held on thanks to a vital Savea steal defending their try line.
Savea now has 75 starts and 73 wins in 100 appearances. He had a big hand to play in so many of those victories. He said afterwards, “It was a gutsy performance, I’m just proud of the boys, we knew the Springboks were going to come here and give it to us..I’m just proud of the way the boys turned up and fronted up.”
Coach Scott Robertson said of Savea’s performance, “It epitomised who he is, really. He’s a person who makes big plays, and that just sums him up beautifully.
It was his moment on the 100th. A guy that’s so mentally tough and physically tough, and shows so much resilience and keeps getting up – it did reflect the test match. His ability to go between seven and eight and carry the ball and hunt for the ball, his tackles – his overall performance reflected the whole 100 games.”
The Boks should be commended for fighting back from being 3-14 down and were within a whisker of pulling off a draw, which would have seemed unlikely at the halfway mark. It was the fourth most experienced Bok team to take the field, but they made a poor, error-ridden start, and the All Blacks were excellent at disrupting them, not always legally, some would argue.
Rassie Erasmus and captain Jesse Krielf said they would “regroup and try to fix the errors that cost them in the coming week before the teams meet again next Saturday in Wellington.”
Erasmus explained, “We were 14 points behind after two easy tries, and we found ourselves chasing our own tails, and that was in the rain as well. I thought the replacements brought energy, and we fought back well, but it’s tough to win if you are 14 points behind.”
Kriel added, “We always knew New Zealand wanted a fast start to the game, but we are still in the Rugby Championship competition, as Rassie said, and we have another chance to face them next week.
We played badly for a few minutes, and it cost us, which is very disappointing, but we’ll have another go next week, and hopefully things will go better for us.”
Congratulations also to Kyle Preston, who became the 8th debutant this year for the All Blacks.
To think so few of these players in the green had ever played at Eden Park and many might not ever again - they will be disappointed with their collective performance as they continue to wait for a first win at Eden Park since 1937. But within a week, they can avenge the defeat at a ground where they have had success over recent years.
New Zealand 24 (14) – Tries: Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea. Conversions: Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie (2). Penalty goal: McKenzie.
Springboks 17 (3) – Tries: Malcolm Marx, Cobus Reinach. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalty goal: Handre Pollard.
