Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett.
Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks were handed their worst ever defeat Saturday night, after a second half capitulation led to a 43-10 Springboks demolition.
The contest started brightly for the All Blacks, with debutant winger Leroy Carter dotting down for the first try of the game shortly before the 20 minute mark.
Going into the sheds at the half, the All Blacks seemed to be in position to grind out a close game.
But it was ultimately not to be.
The Springboks in the second half took over the game with an avalanche of tries, scoring six to New Zealand’s one by the time the full 80 minutes was up.
Now New Zealand’s trans-Tasman rivals Australia sit atop the Rugby Championship table, followed by South Africa, then the All Blacks and, in last place for now, the Pumas.
The result that means South Africa retains the Freedom Cup for another year.
Here’s how media from across the world reacted to the worst defeat of any All Blacks side in history:
The BBC
UK broadcaster The BBC described the Springboks performance as a “stunning display … as they bounced back from defeat by the All Blacks a week ago”.
Unsurprisingly, much of the focus was on the Springbok domination, rather than the All Blacks’ collapse.
Following Damian McKenzie’s first-half penalty try “it was all South Africa”, the BBC said.
The Daily Maverick
South African news outlet The Daily Maverick said the “future of Bok rugby” had arrived, describing the match as a “performance for the ages”.
However, this did not mean it was “the end of the old guard, because Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith were also immense”, it said.
The outlet also pointed out that it was not only the biggest margin of defeat for the All Blacks, but the second highest total the Springboks had ever scored against their old foe.
The highest total came in a 46-40 South Africa win in a thriller at Ellis Park way back in 2000.
News24
The South African website hailed the stunning second half performance by the Springboks, and said the defeat would raise the pressure on the All Black camp to perform.
“It was also New Zealand’s biggest ever-loss in test rugby and will pile more pressure on under-fire coach Scott Robertson.”
RugbyPass
RugbyPass held nothing back in it’s player analysis of the game, with some All Blacks receiving a score as low as 1 out of 10.
Off the bench Fletcher Newell, Brodie McAlister and Tamaiti Williams all received this dismal ranking.
Also off the bench, Fabian Holland received a three.
In the starting line-up worst ranked were the heart of the pack, second rowers Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i alongside number 6 Simon Parker.
Rugby Pass said Scott Barrett looked tired and couldn’t bring the same energy as at Eden Park. Tupou Vaa’i missed five tackles, while Simon Parker found himself largely outside the action and game plan, it said.
Top-ranked with seven were Leroy Carter, Jordie Barrett and Ardie Savea.
Rugby 365
The website Rugby 365 gave South Africa’s two best players its player of the match ratings, with Damian Willemse and Pieter-Steph du Toit both given a nine out of 10 rating.
Of Willemse, the Springboks’ second five-eigth, it said he was a man on a mission, consistently breaking All Black tackles. “He was exceptional … An absolute Man of the Match performance.”
The result that means South Africa retains the Freedom Cup for another year.
Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
It also had high praise for the Springboks’ number 7, Pieter-Steph du Toit.
“Consistent, brilliant throughout the match. Great steal in the last stanza, disrupting the All Black lineout. One of the best in the green jersey. Found himself out wide, catching the high ball and passing it to Kwagga for the fourth try.”
In its match coverage, Rugby 365 described the test result as a “hammering” of the All Blacks, and pointed out, “the Boks faced many challenges during the match, losing Cheslin Kolbe, Aphelele Fassi, and Lood de Jager early on, yet managed to grow throughout the match and continued to gel as the clock ticked.”
Daily Telegraph, London
The Telegraph focused on the incredible strength of Springbok rugby, having won a World Cup, returned to the top in rugby rankings, despite a few hiccups this year; losing to the Wallabies at home and then being unable to stamp their authority at Eden Park.
“Suggestions of South Africa’s decline, it turns out, may have been exaggerated,” said the Telegraph, singling out the second half upending of the All Blacks. “It was a thrashing.”
The Guardian
UK newspaper The Guardian said it had been a ding-dong battle in the first half with both sides willing to chance their hand but neither side getting a real ascendancy.
But it all changed in the second half, it said.
“Then the floodgates opened. A lineout turnover in the 61st gave the Springboks possession five meters from the All Blacks line. After probing with the forwards, the backs attacked and Libbok passed to Willemse who scored.
“Smith’s try was the best one of the match. Ethan Hooker ignited a counterattack from deep inside South Africa’s half. With the All Blacks retreating, Libbok cross-kicked to Pieter-Steph du Toit whose pass found Smith at pace. Late tries to Esterhuizen and Snyman completed New Zealand’s record defeat.”
Irish Times
The Irish Times said the Springboks “humiliated” the All Blacks and pointed out the Boks are starting to get the better of the ABs in recent years.
“South Africa are making a habit of humbling the New Zealanders, having inflicted their previous worst defeat – a 35-7 thrashing at Twickenham in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“It was a win made all the sweeter by the challenges thrown at the visitors, who lost lock Lood de Jager, outhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and fullback Aphelele Fassi in the first half to injuries.”
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