All Blacks win the title again with two matches to go
NEW Zealand clinched the 2016 Rugby Championship with two games to spare after another commanding second half performance saw them disappear out of sight against a South Africa side that flattered to deceive.
Hooker Dane Coles was the All Blacks stand-out with three notable try assists but the entire team again functioned as well as their rich vein of form continued.
For 40 minutes though it was competitive. After an early Beauden Barrett penalty South Africa struck with a peach of a try from Bryan Habana, his 66th in all Tests. Johan Goosen, Pieter Steph du Toit and Elton Jantjies drilled it up the middle and then, rather than trying to muscle the ball over, de Klerk and Jantjies moved the ball quickly left to right.
New Zealand seemed to have the move covered, but Habana picked a brilliant line coming off the right wing and Warren Whitely, showing the instincts and skills of a Sevens player, put in a small step and fed the flying wing perfectly. In fact, New Zealand didn’t lay a hand on Habana.
Jantjies converted but moments later held his head in his hands as he spilled the long restart from Barrett. After the encouragement of a superb early score South Africa were straight away under the cosh.
New Zealand scented blood and attacked relentlessly from the scrum through Aaron Smith and Barrett before moving left to right for Coles to release Israel Dagg with a perfectly timed ‘no look’ pass.
The extraordinary Coles – who could surely make a decent stab at playing centre in top level rugby – made New Zealand’s second try just five minute later with a lightening burst down the blindside. This time he produced another delicious around the corner pass which sent Julian Savea racing into the corner.
The Boks did claw back three points through a Jantjies penalty before the break and would have felt they were still in the game at half-time at only 15-10 down but New Zealand soon applied the pressure with a third try.
This time it was Ben Smith who struck when New Zealand had counterattacked in numbers after Jantjies had missed a long kick to touch. The final pass, another perfectly timed ‘no look’ effort came from Aaron Smith.
New Zealand had engaged top gear and the game was over but the Boks could have done without a refereeing howler which played a big part in the All Blacks fourth try after an obvious blocking run by replacement Matt Todd in the build-up.
Aaron Smith took full advantage by scampering across field and releasing Ardie Savea. The exciting flanker crossed the line but the referee chose not to bring the TMO into action. Poor from the officials.
Onwards ever onwards for New Zealand and their fifth try owed much to the remarkable Cole again with a long whipped 20 yard spin pass to Sam Whitelock standing out on the left wing unmarked. The big second row wasn’t going to look that gift horse in the mouth.
Nor was that quite the end as a dispirited Boks let TJ Parenara in for the softest of tries at a scrum five. It was just too easy and in marked contrast to their Tigerish defence of the first half.