All Blacks end slump in Boks thumping

The embattled All Blacks rallied to end their slump by punishing the rattled Springboks with a well-deserved 23-35 victory at Ellis Park last night.

It was as much of a dramatically improved performance from New Zealand as much as it was a slump from the Boks.

Going into the game at Ellis Park on the back of five defeats in their last six Test matches, the All Blacks were expected to struggle against a powerhouse pack at altitude. However, it was the visitors who looked far more comfortable and the hosts who appeared off the pace.

The Springboks will be asking themselves a few tough questions ahead of what could a tough two-test mini-tour of Australia, before a trip to face the Pumas in Argentina.

By the time hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho barrelled his way over the tryline to give New Zealand a 15-0 lead in the 28th minute, a loud home crowd was stunned into silence.

An early concussion injury to Jesse Kriel did not help matters for the Springboks as it prompted a backline reshuffle as Willie le Roux made his way onto the park as Kriel’s replacement.

That change saw Damian Willemse move to inside centre, Damian de Allende to outside centre and Lukhanyo Am to wing. While Am had a sensational outing and was possibly one of the best players on the park, De Allende looked far from comfortable defending in the outside channels and the All Blacks exploited that ruthlessly.

A brilliant solo try from Am, where he brushed off two tacklers along the way, along with a long-range penalty from Handre Pollard got the Boks back into the match, cutting the deficit to five points at the break.

Pollard and Richie Mo’unga traded penalties in the second half, but the crowd was back on their feet when Makazole Mapimpi scored after a brilliant pass from Malcolm Marx.

It appeared as if the Springboks were finding their groove when Beauden Barrett was yellow carded for a cynical off-theball tackle and Pollard converted the subsequent penalty to give the home side the lead for the first time in the match.

However, it was the All Blacks who finished strongest as David Havili reached over to finish off a coast-to-coast move, before Scott Barrett scored in the final play of the contest to secure the bonus-point for the visitors. – sarugbymag.co.za*