The Springboks last beat the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1937, and if they play like they did today, it will take another hundred years to beat their hosts at Eden Park. The All Blacks outplayed the Springboks, playing basic rugby to secure a well-deserved 24-17 bonus-point win.
It took the All Blacks under two minutes to score their first try, thanks to the Springboks' halfhearted defence. Emoni Narawa collected a brilliant kick-pass by Beauden Barrett to score in the corner while Willie le Roux and Cheslin Kolbe stood in awe. Beauden Barrett added the extras to extend the All Blacks' lead to 07-00.
A simple strike play off a line-out put Will Jordan in a gap to crush through two tackles and score the All Blacks’ second try. Damian McKenzie converted to extend the All Blacks’ lead to 14-00 after sixteen minutes of play in the first half.
The Springboks' dominant scrum earned Handre Pollard an opportunity to convert a penalty and cut the All Blacks’ lead to 14-03.
Following ten minutes of play in the second half, Damian McKenzie converted an easy penalty to extend the All Blacks’ lead to 17-03.
Following a dominant scrum, Kwagga Smith attacked from the back of the scrum, and eventually it was Malcolm Marx who was carried over the All Blacks’ tryline for the Springboks' first try.
A stupid mistake by Kwagga Smith was deservedly rewarded with a yellow card, whereafter the All Blacks opted for a line-out. Following wave after wave of attacks, the ball was spread wide, and Quinn Tupaea stepped past the Springbok defenders to score the All Blacks' third try. Damian McKenzie added the extra two points to extend the All Blacks' lead to 24-10.
With six minutes still to play, Cobus Reinach sniped from the back of a ruck to score the Springboks' second try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extra points to cut the hosts’ lead to 24-17.
Teams
All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Springboks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.