Hooker Malcolm Marx celebrated his landmark 50th appearance for the Springboks in fine style as he spearheaded his team’s emphatic 26-10 win over the All Blacks in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The only down point for the Boks on a day where they did just about everything right was the red card shown to try scorer Kurt Lee Arendse late in the game for a reckless in the air challenge on All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett. Both players were stretchered from the field after the clash and Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was knocked cold in the first minute otherwise it was a high tempo and physical game that the Boks dominated pretty much from start to finish.
Marx produced a storming display in the tight loose as he justified his selection into the starting team by helping set the early tempo both with his driving play and, perhaps most importantly, a few crucial turn-over penalties that prevented the All Blacks from getting into the game and making any kind of statement.
The Boks spoke about the need to deliver intensity from the outset in the build-up to the game and they got that right. It didn’t start well for them when De Klerk, who had already put in two good tackles, was knocked out cold trying to bring down the sizeable All Black wing Caleb Clarke.
Play was held up for several minutes as De Klerk was stretchered from the field. Fortunately, he re-emerged from the tunnel later on and although unable to take any further part in the game, he was given rapturous applause by a relieved crowd of 42 000.
FIRST SCRUM SET THE TONE
From the ensuing scrum the Boks set the tone for their dominant display by forcing a scrum penalty. Actually, they won a free kick at the first scrum, and from there opted for another scrum, and it was then they forced the penalty.
It was clear from those early minutes that the Boks were superior physically, and their kicking game was also spot on. If kudos go to Marx for his five-star performance, they should also go to De Klerk’s replacement Jaden Hendrikse. The young Sharks halfback produced a very mature and commanding display from the base of the scrum, and his kicking game was excellent.
So was the chasing and contesting until that unfortunate incident late in the game when Arendse clattered into an airborne Barrett. The Boks won almost every ball that went into the air throughout the 80 minutes.
The first Bok try came courtesy of a hoist from flyhalf Handre Pollard that Lukhanyo Am won in the air. He palmed the ball on to Arendse who used his pace to go over on the right. Pollard’s excellent conversion made it 7-0 to the Boks after nine minutes and with the Boks playing with such massive tempo and intensity, and also willing to mix up their attacking game, the All Blacks looked stunned.
With the Bok defenders swarming all over them every time they got ball in hand, the All Blacks struggled to make any imprint on the game, and it wasn’t a surprise when they went behind by 10 points when Pollard kicked a penalty.
The Boks could easily have gone further ahead in the first half as they had all the momentum and several attacking opportunities came just short. A period where the Boks lost a bit of their discipline, such as Jasper Wiese’s poor clean out when the ball had already been won by his team, saw four successive penalties to the All Blacks and that allowed them to settle a bit.
ALL BLACKS STILL IN THE GAME AT THE BREAK
Indeed, heading to halftime, particularly once Jordy Barrett had kicked a penalty to make it a seven point game, there should have been some concern among Bok supporters at the way that the Kiwis resiliently kept themselves in the game.
Certainly, the Boks would have felt they should have been further than 10-3 up at the break given their all round dominance, both when it came to the battle for possession and the territory battle. It required the Boks to start the second half well and they did that, with Pollard kicking a penalty to stretch the lead back to 10 and then dropping a goal to make it 16-3.
In a game where both defensive systems were outstanding, that was a handy lead, and it became 19-3, meaning the All Blacks would need to score more than twice, when Am won a turnover penalty and Pollard kicked his third three pointer from the tee.
The All Black try scored by replacement looseforward Shannon Frizell came about through the only kind of attack they ever looked like scoring off, as Clarke for once broke through the hitherto immaculate Bok defence. He looked like he’d score himself but was brought down by a brilliant cover tackle from Damian Willemse, who also had a good game, only for the pass to get away to Paplii to dot down.
Had it ended there the scoreline would have flattered the All Blacks but replacement Willie le Roux kicked through for a try on the whistle that restored a 16-point advantage that even then might have slightly flattered an All Black team that was well beaten.
Scores
South Africa 26 - Tries:Kurt Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux; Conversion:Handre Pollard; Penalties:Handre Pollard 3; Drop-goal:Handre Pollard.
New Zealand 10 - Try:Shannon Frizell; Conversion:Richie Mo’unga; Penalty:Jordy Barrett.