New Zealand 35 – 20 South Africa – rezal404
New Zealand secured a statement victory over South Africa in the second round of the 2023 Rugby Championship
New Zealand made it two wins from two in the 2023 Rugby Championship, as a phenomenal start laid the platform for them to beat South Africa 35-20 in Auckland.
Early tries from scrum-half Aaron Smith (5) and flanker Shannon Frizell (15), either side of a Richie Mo’unga penalty, put the All Blacks into an early 17-0 lead, as they choose not to kick the ball off the park and attacked at blistering speed.
The Springboks were no match for the hosts for the first half hour, and all they could muster before the break was a single Faf de Klerk penalty, as Mo’unga added another effort to leave the half-time score 20-3.
The All Blacks started on the front foot again in the second half, but South Africa’s introduction of the likes of Malcolm Marx, RG Snyman and Pieter-Steph du Toit from the bench made a noticeable impact, as they hit back through Malcolm Marx (53 ) and Cheslin Kolbe (62) tries.
Mo’unga had kicked an earlier long-range penalty before the second of those SA tries, however, to grant the hosts – who never reached the heights of their first-half display again – some breathing space, before Will Jordan struck a crucial third try with 11 minutes to go.
Mo’unga and South Africa flanker Kwagga Smith added tries in the final three minutes, as the All Blacks confirmed a statement victory ahead of September’s Rugby World Cup in France, and one which puts them in a great position to clinch the Rugby Championship trophy in two weeks’ time.
More to follow….
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