Springboks inflict heaviest defeat ever on All Blacks in World Cup warmup
Springboks inflict heaviest defeat ever on All Blacks in World Cup warmup
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi scores a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
New Zealand’s Scott Barrett, centre, is shown a second yellow cart and sent off by referee Matthew Carley of England, during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Malcolm Marx, left, celebrates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, scores a try as New Zealand’s Ardie Savea tries to defend during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Canan Moodie, left, runs as avoids a challenge by New Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga, to score a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi scores a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi scores a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
New Zealand’s Scott Barrett, centre, is shown a second yellow cart and sent off by referee Matthew Carley of England, during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
New Zealand’s Scott Barrett, centre, is shown a second yellow cart and sent off by referee Matthew Carley of England, during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Malcolm Marx, left, celebrates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Malcolm Marx, left, celebrates after scoring a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, scores a try as New Zealand’s Ardie Savea tries to defend during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, centre, scores a try as New Zealand’s Ardie Savea tries to defend during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Canan Moodie, left, runs as avoids a challenge by New Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga, to score a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
South Africa’s Canan Moodie, left, runs as avoids a challenge by New Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga, to score a try during the rugby union international match between South Africa and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium in London, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
LONDON (AP) — Nobody held back. Nobody was protected. No prisoners were taken. No humiliation was spared.
South Africa smashed its previous biggest winning margin against New Zealand and inflicted on the All Blacks their heaviest defeat ever in a 35-7 whipping at Twickenham on Friday, just two weeks before the Rugby World Cup in France.
The caliber of the near full-strength teams emphasized the seriousness with which they regarded their last World Cup warmup. South Africa was euphoric, six weeks after it was mauled by New Zealand in the Rugby Championship. The set-piece and maul pressure was relentless and an All Blacks side with more than 1,000 caps was unhinged.
South Africa’s previous biggest win over New Zealand was 17-0 in 1928. The result also gave South Africa the No. 1 ranking, at least until Ireland plays Samoa on Saturday.
The Springboks received a huge confidence boost going into their World Cup defense starting against Scotland on Sept. 10 in Marseille. They and the All Blacks could potentially meet again in the World Cup quarterfinals, and if they do South Africa has the momentum after laying a massive marker.
“Six weeks ago we were sitting where they are. That’s how quickly things change,” South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber said. “We don’t get one point for the World Cup from tonight. It was an opportunity to prepare and that’s that. We’re staying in reality. Tonight we’re happy but we’re also sad. Five players (in the squad who were injury cover) are going home.”
New Zealand is a lot sadder. It has a litany of concerns, notably for two frontline forwards. Tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax suffered an accidental gashed right knee, and lock Scott Barrett was sent off for two yellow cards. He wasn’t upgraded to red, which may spare him from the judiciary. Barrett was marched in the 39th minute when New Zealand was already trailing 14-0, the halftime score, and couldn’t withstand South Africa’s power.
“We got squeezed and exposed,” New Zealand coach Ian Foster said. “But if we could choose one trophy not to have in our cabinet at the end of the year, it would be this one.”
South Africa made the man advantage count in the second half by piling on tries by forwards Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi even while teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit was in the sin-bin, and Kwagga Smith, the seventh forward among the eight reserves. All five Springboks tries were converted by Mannie Libbok, who silenced his critics with a perfect record on the night after making half of his goalkicks in his previous two tests.
The start of the test was a complete turnaround from Auckland in mid-July, when the All Blacks blasted to 17-0 in less than 20 minutes and took charge. This time, the Springboks brought all the pressure without the points. In the first five minutes, Du Toit was held up, and Makazole Mapimpi stepped in touch near the left corner.
Relief for the All Blacks was brief due to errors. Desperation to get out of their 22 turned into indiscipline and referee Matthew Carley tired of their persistent infringing by sin-binning Scott Barrett then captain Sam Cane, the first yellow or red cards conceded by the All Blacks all year. They gave away 11 penalties in the first half alone, but South Africa was waiving off easy penalty kicks to pin them in the 22.
Down to 13 men, New Zealand’s defense finally cracked. Marx was held up but captain Siya Kolisi went over between the posts. Near halftime, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse intercepted Jordie Barrett and had only 25 meters to the All Blacks’ posts.
Only at 35-0 down did New Zealand score, when replacement scrumhalf Cam Roigard burst away for a consolation try. The end margin would still eclipse New Zealand’s previous heaviest defeats, 21-pointers to Australia in 1999 in Sydney and 2019 in Perth. In only two weeks, the All Blacks open the World Cup against tournament host France in Paris.
Foster tried to be positive. “Maybe this (result) will take a lot of heat off us. No one will rate us now.”
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