So impressive was their display that online bookmaker Sportsbet have listed the All Blacks as overwhelming $1.04 favourites on Saturday – their lowest odds at home in history against the Springboks, who are $11.00 to cause a massive upset.
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The visitors, written off before the game after an indifferent season, also showed glimpses of the high-paced game they are trying to adapt, turning the All Blacks defenders inside out several times.
There were some promising situations in the first half whenever there was a quick clearance from De Klerk, and it played a significant role in Bryan Habana going over for his SA record 66th Test try.
The response from New Zealand was nearly instant as they capitalised on a handling error from Jantjies and Dagg crossed the line.
TRY! Perenara scoots from the back of the scrum and dives over. I don’t think it’s necessarily the new players [who have helped take it to a new level] but a team wanting to get better.
If not, expect more of the same in the return games against the Wallabies and All Blacks on SA soil in October… The next phase switches right and Smith’s bullet pass finds Coles who shifts to Dagg unmarked.
While pleased to join big brother Julian on the score sheet – the big wing also nailed his first try against the Springboks in his seventh cap – it was still anxious moments during his hour-long initiation process.
TRY! The break from Johan Goosen ends with Bryan Habana bursting onto the short pass and cruising in for the opening try.
Ardie Savea experienced an openside flanker’s role in test rugby from another angle against the Springboks, and gained a valuable insight into Sam Cane’s often understated contribution to the All Blacks.
That this All Blacks squad is unlikely to fail for a lack of humility.
“They’re a very good side and backs against the wall they’ll be desperate, they’ll be hungry”, he said. Israel Dagg, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 12.
From the resultant scrum the All Blacks advanced down the left flank before Julian Savea applied the finishing touches. Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4.
The immaculate Ben Smith scored after an aimless Jantjies punt‚ while Ardie Savea touched down after turn over possession at a ruck inside their own half. Kieran Read (c), 7.
The Jantjies/Juan de Jongh channel was like the Panama Canal with traffic frequent and heavy.
South Africa, on the other hand, have displayed unconvincing and dissatisfactory performances thus far after just scraping past Argentina at home in Nelspruit, before losing the following week against the same opposition in Salta by two points and then losing again to a struggling Australian outfit in Brisbane last week.
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Captain Strauss was withdrawn from the action in the 44th minute and was replaced by Malcolm Marx‚ giving rise to all sorts of conspiracy theories.
