New Zealand v South Africa

South Africa give up their first penalty. Well played Ardie Savea who wins the penalty within five metres of the NZ line! Can the All Blacks begin to turn the ...

It always matters when South Africa meet New Zealand but this Saturday the two face each other in a clash which could have massive ramifications. However, if they can get a win on the road in South Africa then that pressure will ease and it could reinvigorate the team as they compete in the Rugby Championship and look forward into next year. New Zealand have rarely ventured over the halfway. Then they struggle to do with South Africa's power after the hosts call for a scrum. Lood de Jager then gets pinged and New Zealand can relieve the pressure. Another penalty for New Zealand after a brilliant scrum forces Nyakane to his knee. A seven-point lead does not flatter South Africa at all and that breakdown steal from Ardie Savea, which came off the back of some really unimaginative phase-play from South Africa, could prove a big moment in the final shake-up... It eventually gets turned over and cleared up field but the pressure doesn't stop and South Africa are back in that same position moments later. South Africa boot it long downfield and into touch. New Zealand have the ball around 10 metres out and Jordan makes a break, it looks like he's off but a little ankle tap brings him down. Yes. South Africa clear the ball and New Zealand attempt a quick lineout, only to throw it in at an angle. More ill-discipline from New Zealand who close the gap at the lineout.

The world champions inflicted even more misery on New Zealand rugby as they dismantled the All Blacks.

However, a last-gasp try from replacement Willie le Roux restored the Springboks' deserved margin on the scoreboard and served to only pile more pressure on Foster. There was a late flashpoint in the final few minutes, with try-scorer Arendse shown a red card for taking out Beauden Barrett in the air. More points from the boot of Pollard, including a snap drop goal, extended South Africa's lead in the second half.

Ill-discipline and errors proved costly, as New Zealand succumbed in their Rugby Championship opener.

There was not much to worry France in the opening game of the 2022 Rugby Championship on show here. The same, perhaps, cannot be said for the world's ...

On came the less experienced Jaden Hendrikse The pressure was on the men in black and how South Africa applied it. There was not much to worry France in the opening game of the 2022 Rugby Championship on show here.

Result of the 2022 Rugby Championship first-round match between South Africa and New Zealand at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on the Rugby Championship Test between South Africa and New Zealand at Mbombela Stadium.

Following a 26-10 victory for South Africa over New Zealand in their Rugby Championship opener, here's our five takeaways from the match in Mbombela. The top line. Nelspruit provided a wonderful atmosphere and backdrop for the 101st Test match between ...

At no point in the game did the Boks look to switch up and come back on a line to attack the inside shoulder of the defender – everything was run around the corner which allowed New Zealand to defend the width of the pitch. Damian Willemse might be a brilliant defensive full-back (and some of his work at the back in this match was exceptional) but he isn’t close to the attacking rapier that Willie le Roux is, especially given Le Roux ability to attack against the grain and to that inside shoulder. The platform provided by the brilliance of their pack in the set-piece, together with the commitment and timing of their kick chase makes them a formidable side to play. When De Klerk went off so early for South Africa, they lost a little variety from scrum-half – the kicks and snipes that are the hallmarks of his rounded game, despite Hendrikse’s committed effort. It is almost unthinkable to see a team with the calibre of players they possess look so clueless in how to play simple Test rugby. In every area of the set-piece, they lost the confrontation.

Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse picked up the 'clearest red card you'll ever see' after a horrific collision with All Black fly-half Beauden Barrett in ...

“It’s a quickly made decision, it’s the right decision,” commented one of the South African SuperSport commentary team. Making no clear attempt to compete for the high ball with Barrett, Arendse instead clattered into Barrett - toppling over the All Black mid-air to leave him landing on his head. As he brandished the red card, both players were still lying on the turf receiving medical treatment.

South Africa beat New Zealand 26-10 on Saturday in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, adding to the woes of the embattled All Blacks.

We did well to absorb that but it took a lot out of us. We did all the things we wanted to do. We made the tackles, we know how dangerous they can be. They threw a heck of a lot at us. Under-fire Cane said: "A lot of credit has to go to the Springboks, especially the way they played in the first half. South Africa beat New Zealand 26-10 on Saturday in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, adding to the woes of the embattled All Blacks.

How the players rated in the All Blacks' 26-10 loss to South Africa this morning. All Blacks. 1. George Bower: With honours even in the tally of mystery ...

But his effort to win a three-point ruck penalty in the 69th minute, snaffling the ball singlehandedly against three All Blacks (one of whom was the open-side flanker), pretty much summed up the day. Had the advantage of playing behind the better of the two packs, and made the most of it. 2. Malcolm Marx: The best of the Boks. Playing in his 50th test, the Japan-based man was every inch the modern hooker, carrying, bustling and jackaling the visitors out of the game in a display of brutal efficiency. 15. Jordie Barrett: Needed to do a better job of commanding the Bok high balls. The one bright light was a link up with Savea reminiscent of that which brought a try against Ireland. Expect that channel to be blocked next week. In a game of little space, the big winger had to work hard to get involved, bringing grunt to collisions. He was also beaten in the air by teeny-tiny Arendse for the opening try. Summed up by the blind pass in the 38th minute which went to ground, letting the Boks sneak out from a rare moment of rising pressure. Notable that the Hurricanes skipper had a lot to say to the referee late in the match. Out-played by the Bok loosies, his lowest point was probably taking out his own fullback under a highball at the start of the second half. 3. Angus Ta'avao: The Boks hammered his side of the scrum hard and the whistle follows him, but he got a couple of decisions in his favour, too. But like the rest of us, he could only look on as his opposite number delivered a masterclass in how modern hookers can dominate a match.

Tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux settled the Rugby Championship opener as the All Blacks' bad run continued.

New Zealand are in the midst of their worst run in 24 years after last month’s historic home series loss to Ireland. Replacement Willie le Roux crossed over as the All Blacks launched a desperate late attack deep in their own 22 in an attempt to salvage some pride. The Springboks were in control throughout and had a big territorial advantage to work with, although they finished with 14 men.

New Zealand coach Ian Foster says his side have improved their performance from the historic 2-1 home series loss to Ireland, despite a heaviest defeat by ...

"The third quarter was critical for us in terms of getting back into the game, but all the Springboks did was carry hard and get a few penalties. We will have to go and look at that." "For us, I actually thought it was a step up in performance from the last series.