At last! All Blacks snatch it in thriller
AFTER a torrid month of defeat, self doubt and general doom and gloom, New Zealand rediscovered their mojo to claim a magnificent victory over the world champions at the Johannesburg citadel and dampen down talk of terminal decline and the imminent departure of coach Ian Foster.
A classic game worthy of this great rivalry was in the balance going into the final 10 minutes but Foster’s side responded with a stupendous multiphase attack and, from way down town, a try by David Havili and then, just to rub salt into Springbok wounds, Scott Barrett bullocked his way over from short range to give the scoreline a satisfying gloss.
It was a dramatic but fitting end. New Zealand were unrecognisable from the side that were twice tamed by Ireland and then again by the Boks last week. They addressed the breakdown, went to war in the tight and their kick chase of the box ball was much better than recently. It was a huge step forward and now we await to see if they will kick on during the remaining Rugby Championship matches.
With so much at stake, New Zealand started like a side playing for their lives – and that of the coach – from the off and, although not immediately rewarded, the All Blacks planted themselves firmly on the front foot which has not been their default position. For the first time in a while, they really fronted up in the tight exchanges and instantly they looked a more rounded and competitive side. Within half an hour, two of the bomb squad were on – Malcom Marx and Steven Kitshoff – as the Boks tried to shore up a malfunctioning scrum and lineout.
And there was enterprise as well with New Zealand having no hesitation in attacking from deep. Their first attack faltered with a loose pass from Will Jordan but soon after Ardie Savea beat two defenders and made acres of ground up the left before being stopped by Damian Willemse, who then copped a yellow for preventing release.
The Springboks were in a proper New Zealand Test and it looked odds on they would go behind when the ABs again broke out only for Peter Steph du Toit to sprint 60 yards downfield to threaten the New Zealand line.
New Zealand defended that well and soon after were again attacking brilliantly from deep, this time through Jordan and Rieko Ioane and this time their reward was finally to earn a penalty which Richie Mo’unga slotted.
Running and handling infinitely better than last week, New Zealand struck while the iron was hot. Firstly excellent continuity play eventually worked an opportunity to the right and Jordan this time found his skipper Sam Cane with an inch perfect looping pass for the flanker to crash over. A sweet moment for a player under huge pressure.
Mo’unga couldn’t convert but moments later livewire hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho spun his way over for a deserved try and this time Mo’unga added the two with a soaring kick from the touchline. Seemingly in the blink of an eye New Zealand were 15-0 up.
South Africa had to strike next and they did with a fluent passing move left to right which still left Lukhanyo Am with plenty to do despite a fine pass from Willie le Roux who had come on early after a concussion to Jesse Kriel. Am nonetheless scored with ease.
Pollard, beginning to look the World Cup winner of the 2019 again, pumped the conversion over from the touchline and then, with the clock red, blasted a penalty
home from fully 55 metres.
The Boks fly-half continued his purple patch with another penalty soon after the break and then things started to become chaotic just when South Africa had threatened to take control.
Firstly Leicester No.8 Jasper Wiese had a penalty reversed for a silly after-the-whistle tackle on
Aaron Smith with Mo’unga doing the necessary and then Makazole Mapimpi had what would have been a glorious try disallowed for a spot of midfield obstruction by Paul Hendrikse, although in truth the final pass was also massively forward. Again Mo’unga calmly slotted the penalty.
South Africa did hit back with a well taken try for the deserving Mapimpi courtesy of a 25 metre wonder pass from Willemse. Pollard converted and then added a penalty when Beauden Barrett tackled Hendrikse off the ball to give the Boks the lead with 14 minutes left and 14 men to play against for the next ten minutes.
The smart money was on them but New Zealand had their eyes on a famous win and duly delivered.