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New Zealand put 54 points on the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, running out 54-0 winners in Game 2 of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. It was a heavy defeat for the hosts, who could not get a foothold at any stage and never troubled the scoreboard.
Tries
F. Fineanganofo (18', 53'), D. McKenzie (27'), C. Clarke (45'), J. Barrett (59'), K. Preston (62'), T. Tavatavanawai (69'), S. Darry (75')
Conversions
R. Love (19', 30', 46', 53', 60', 62', 76')
Coming off a 38-21 win over the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in the tour opener, the All Blacks arrived with momentum, and they made it count from the first quarter. Eight tries and seven conversions from Ruben Love told the story of a side that took nearly every clear chance it created.
Fehi Fineanganofo opened the scoring on 18 minutes, with Damian McKenzie adding a second before the half hour. Two converted tries and a 14-0 lead at that point already hinted at where this was heading, and the Sharks had no answer.
The contest, such as it was, effectively ended early in the second half. Caleb Clarke crossed just after the restart, Fineanganofo grabbed his second on 53 minutes, and from there the visitors added scores at will. Jordie Barrett, scrum-half Kyle Preston, replacement Timoci Tavatavanawai and lock Sam Darry all got in on the act as the final quarter turned into a procession.
The numbers underline how clinical New Zealand were. The Sharks actually had more possession, 56 per cent to 44, and carried more often, but they could not turn that into pressure or points. New Zealand were far more incisive, making three clean breaks to none and finishing eight tries from limited openings.
Discipline hurt New Zealand in patches - they conceded five penalties to the Sharks' one - but it never cost them, because the hosts could not build anything off that pressure. The visitors were also tidy at the set-piece, winning all three of their scrum feeds and their only lineout throw.
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAK
DEFENDER BEATEN
TACKLE
MISSED TACKLE
TURNOVER WON
TURNOVERS CONCEDED
PENALTY CONCEDED
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
This was a long evening for the hosts, and there is little point dressing it up. They could not build sustained pressure and never once looked like scoring. To fail to register a point at home says plenty about how flat the performance was.
If there were any bright spots, they came in isolation. Manu Tshituka was their most productive carrier, making 21 metres from five runs and beating four defenders on the flank. Full-back Zekhethelo Siyaya made 22 metres from two carries, and Murray Koster got through a fair share of work in midfield with five tackles. But those were moments, not a pattern, and the rest of the side never got going.
There was a nice touch late on, with veteran Ma'a Nonu named among the replacements against his old international side.
The result leaves New Zealand two from two on this South African leg after wins over the Stormers and Sharks. For the Sharks, it is back to the drawing board after a chastening night in front of their own supporters.
