By Roger Childs

Springboks win again

There was a certain irony that it took a Malcolm Marx try late in the game to give the Springboks their first touch of the Freedom Cup in almost 15 years, winning the fiercely contested match against the All Blacks in Cape Town 18-12. –Brendan Nel, SuperSport South Africa

It is generally agreed around the globe that a test between New Zealand and South Africa is the pinnacle of world rugby competition. Since 1921 the two countries have played 108 matches, including two World Cup finals.

  • The All Blacks have won 62.
  • The Springboks have won 42.
  • Four have been drawn.

In Cape Town on Saturday the home team won 18-12, and like the game in Johannesburg a week ago it was only decided late in the match. In the 72nd minute All Black prop Tyrell Lomax was sent off for obstruction and from the ensuing lineout replacement hooker Malcolm Marx crossed the line to cement the victory for the Springboks.

In the final quarter the All Blacks had their chances to win the game. A deliberate knock down by Willie le Roux possibly denied the visitors a try and Damian McKenzie hit the right-hand post with one penalty attempt and a second went high over the top of the left hand post.

It was a very close game, and the action ebbed and flowed especially in the second half.

The All Blacks had the better of the first half

The New Zealanders did most of the attacking in the first 15 minutes but couldn’t get across the line. During the half there were impressive breaks by Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea, Mark Tele’a and Codie Taylor who was the All Blacks player of the match. For the Springboks Cheslin Kolbe made an early jinky run, Damain de Allende’s tackling and running was impressive and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit stood out in the lineouts and open. There was solid tackling on both sides and a fierce battle in the rucks and mauls where both sides won turnovers.

The All Blacks disrupted a number of the early South African lineouts with Tupou Vaa’i and Savea being prominent. Their best chance of a try was early on when Taylor made an excellent break close to the Springbok line and running in support Cortez Ratima was tackled without the ball.

 It was 9-3 to New Zealand at half-time with all the points coming from penalty kicks. 

The Springboks pick up their game

They dominated the early part of the second half and went onto the offensive with more go-forward ball, slick passing and speedy running in the backs. Centres Allende and Jesse Kriel proved to be a handful for their opposites. South Africa was unlucky not to be awarded a try in the 45th minute when lock Eben Ezebeth dotted the ball on the line before being pushed back. However, shortly after, captain Siya Kolisi went over close to the posts for the first try of the match and the conversion put the home team ahead 10-9. 

The All Blacks had their share of attacks with some impressive running in the open and passing along the backline, and the le Roux slap down of a pass from Beauden Barrett to Sevu Reece in the 60th minute may have prevented a try. Unfortunately the New Zealand were guilty of kicking too much ball away when passing and keeping possession would have been the better option. There were also some missed tackles and dropped passes. McKenzie miss two penalty kicks late in the game, and I would have liked to see the TMO look at whether the second one over the top of the left post actually missed.

Looking ahead

With both South African tests lost the All Blacks now face the Wallabies in Sydney in two weeks’ time for the first Bledisloe Cup match. The Australians won’t be very confident as the Wallabies were thrashed 67-27 by Argentina on Saturday. However, they will do better at home.