The Boks started very well, but could not capitalise. When RG Snyman, an early replacement for Lood de Jager, finally went over, the try was cancelled for a knock-on earlier in the move.

Instead, the All Blacks hit back with a try by Leroy Carter, on debut, with Damian McKenzie’s conversion making it 7-0 in the 19th minute. Speedster Cheslin Kolbe hit back for the Boks, with Manie Libbok making no mistake with the boot.  A penalty by McKenzie made it 10-7 at the break, but New Zealand had no idea what was about to hit them.

‘Boks took charge of the game’

Kolbe gave the Boks the perfect second-half start when he scored his second try of the game, and Libbok sent the ball through the uprights to pull the Boks 14-10 ahead. The replacement pivot then succeeded with a long-range penalty goal to edge the Boks seven points ahead following an illegal tackle on Kolbe.

After that, the Boks took charge of the game and never let the All Blacks back in. Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, and Andre Esterhuizen all went over the whitewash as the Boks ran rampant at Sky Stadium.

The six-try win was South Africa’s biggest ever over New Zealand and also the All Blacks’ biggest ever loss in Test Rugby.

The Springboks will return home for a well-deserved break before they take on Argentina in Durban on Saturday, 27 September.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg