All Blacks outsmart Springboks

26 Jul, 2015 - 00:07 0 Views
All Blacks outsmart Springboks

The Sunday News

Cape Town — The All Blacks yesterday beat the Springboks 27-20 in their Rugby Championship Test at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.

The Springboks had led the game for large parts, but were unable to capitalise on numerous scoring opportunities.

The hosts dominated at scrum time and wrecked havoc early on at the breakdowns, but the composure of the world champions shone through when it really mattered in the latter stages of the Test.

A try from Willie le Roux in the ninth minute gave South Africa a terrific start, with the fullback running a brilliant line after taking an inside pass from centre Jesse Kriel.

The All Blacks were intent to run at their opponents from all corners, with scrumhalf Aaron Smith opting to take quick taps kicks off penalties. Their approach didn’t pay off initially, but the Springboks kept them in the game by not rounding off several attacking forays.

The Boks turned over numerous All Black balls in the first half and defended like Trojans but the visitors showed their class by staying within striking range.

Despite clearly having the better of the first stanza, the hosts had to be content with a 10-10 scoreline at the break, after All Black wing Ben Smith rounded off on the stroke of half-time when the visitors launched an attack from just inside their own half.

The Boks regained the lead in the 45th minute when centre Jesse Kriel scored a brilliantly try, taking a flat ball from flyhalf Handre Pollard in midfield to burst through the All Black defence.

Undeterred, the All Blacks hit back four minutes later when hooker Dane Coles scored in similar fashion to Kriel, bursting through the Springbok midfield to canter through under the posts.

There was a contentious call in the 54th minute when lock Lood de Jager came inches from scoring, but the Television Match Official (TMO) ruled he had grounded the ball just short. Just the previous week, a similar try was awarded to Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani as Australia beat the Boks at the death in Brisbane.

Pollard though did slot a penalty two minutes later to put the hosts 20-17 up after 57 minutes.

The All Blacks received a blow when replacement lock Sam Whitelock was sin-binned for conceding a cynical penalty on his own tryline — after the Boks came inches from scoring following a move which was started from deep inside his own 22m by Le Roux. — Sports 24

 

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