The visitors scored eight tries to the hosts’ three and led 24-0 at halftime.  Winger Josh Moorby drew first blood for the All Blacks in the 13th minute and scored his second barely five minutes later.

Josh Moorby scores for the All Blacks. Photo: Facebook/All Blacks

A yellow card for the Bulls’ Francois Klopper for getting in the way of a pass while retreating did not help matters. Captain Codie Taylor scored from a tap-and-go on the half-hour mark and added another right before halftime, pushing the score to 24-0 at the break.

Johan Ackermann must have had some inspiring words for his charges in the shed, because the Bulls were more focused in the second half. Ruan Vermaak crossed the whitewash in the first minute, and the TMO ruled him short, but the referee overruled him and awarded the try. Curwin Bosch converted to make it 24-7.

Magnificent try

But the Bulls try only seemed to invigorate the All Blacks, who scored twice in quick succession.  First, winger Leroy Carter scored from an overturned ball, and then center Rieko Ioane crossed the whitewash, also from a turnover.

Bulls winger Stravino Jacobs joined the party with a magnificent try that started when Jeandre Rudolph broke from the back of the scrum and fed the ball to Bosch, who offloaded to Jacobs. 

But with about 15 minutes to go, Carter scored his second try. Marcell Coetzee crossed the line in the 72nd minute, but it could hardly have been called a consolation try. Wallace Sititi had the final say for the All Blacks with less than five minutes to go before the final whistle.

All Blacks' Codie Taylor. Photo: Facebook/All Blacks

SCORERS:

Bulls – Tries: Ruan Vermaak, Stravino Jacobs, Marcell Coetzee. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2).

All Blacks – Tries: Josh Moorby (2), Codie Taylor (2), Leroy Carter (2), Rieko Ioane, Wallace Sititi. Conversions: Beauden Barrett, Josh Jacomb (4).

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg