As first courses go, this was a delicious appetiser to a series that looks set to live up to its billing. First blood goes to New Zealand, who withstood a barrage of South Africa scrum pressure and demonstrated a slickness the double world champions could not live with, clinching a first win at Ellis Park since 2022. It wasn’t a classic, but a statement victory by the All Blacks to which South Africa must respond in the coming weeks.
By the end, South Africa had two men in the sin-bin and, given their status as the world’s leading side, this must go down as a disintegration. There will be a backlash – it is hard to remember a time when South Africa were so inaccurate with the ball in hand – but credit New Zealand for producing a masterclass at weathering the storm and taking their chances. It is 30 years since Sean Fitzpatrick led the All Blacks to a first series victory in South Africa, but the class of 2026 are off to a flying start.
The All Blacks chalked up five tries to South Africa’s one and they were even calling for scrums late in the second half, having found parity to nullify the Springboks’ only threat on the day. The last meeting between these sides in Wellington ended 43-10 in South Africa’s favour. This was some revenge mission.
South Africa, for their part, may wonder how New Zealand kept 15 men on the field during a period of sustained pressure near their line early in the second half. Their profligacy in the New Zealand 22 should be of more concern to Rassie Erasmus and his assistant coaches, however. The pre-match verbals had all centred around speed.
New Zealand wanted a fast-paced game, South Africa supposedly wanted to slow it down. It matters little what tempo you play at if you cannot catch the ball. Three of New Zealand’s five tries came in the right corner – targeting the scrum-half Grant Williams’ position was clearly a pre-planned strategy – but this was a victory founded on defensive courage.
South Africa’s handling was woeful, but their powerful runners, led by the No 8, Jasper Wiese, and their ruthless scrum gave them a platform in the middle 40 minutes of the game that would have been enough to brush aside most teams. That New Zealand survived before ruthlessly taking their chances is some feather in the cap for Dave Rennie’s side. It was a stop-start first half – injuries and ill-discipline ensuring the whistle was rarely far from the lips of the referee, Matt Carley.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
