All Blacks Down South Africa to Secure Top Spot

The All Blacks put on an emphatic performance against World Champions South Africa in their Rugby Championship fixture in Auckland earlier today. New Zealand scured a dominanant 35-20 over the world Champions to continue their unbeaten run in capital, a record stretching back to 1994. 

With Eben Etzebeth winning the toss and opting  to kick-off, the All Black's immediately applied the pressure from the first whistle. It wasn'y long before the home side crossed the white wash through scrum-half Aaron Smith who latched onto a pass from Jordan Barret after he broke the line, to put the vistors up 7-0 in two minutes thanks to a Richie Mo'Unga penalty.

The relentless pressure from New Zealand continued and it paid off as they were rewarded through a Richie Mo'Unga penalty to stretch the lead to ten in the eighth minute.  The Springboks would survive another onslaught, this time narrowly escpaing further punishement thanks to a Will Jordan knock-on. 

However three minutes later, Shannon Frizzel who was having a stellar first half steam rolled over Willie Le Roux to give the All Blacks, their second try of the match with Mo'Unga adding the extra two points with the score at 17-0. 

The Boks never seemed to really look settled with winger Mapimpi only getting his first touvh of the ball after 20mins, and an array of handeling errors due to the All Blacks brilliant tactical kicking kept the visitors frustrated. The Boks came very close to scoring after a Faf de Klerk cross kick found Chelsin Kolbe in the corner, however a Beauden Barret arial challenge kept the Boks scoreless after going upstairs for a review.

It would take 35mins for the world champs to get on the board through a De Klerk penalty. A last minute onslaught by the world champions had the All Blacks on the backfoot when Etzebeth thought he'd crossed the line, however after going upstairs again, French Referee Mathieu Raynal decided otherwise as the half ended with a 17 point lead to the All Blacks.

Player and Team Half Time Stats pic.twitter.com/ZS1cnWMEJ8

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The vistors rang in the changes at halftime as  RG Snyman, Piet-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulan came on in the first five minutes. The Boks were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute, which them find touch. The move paid off as South Africa powered over the line with a maul through substitute Malcolm Marx in the 54th minute. With De Klerk off it was up to Kolbe to add the extra two points, which he did narrowing the lead to 20-10. 

New Zealand responded with a Mo'Unga penalty two minutes later however, the World Champs seemed to have founf their rythmn as Willie's le Roux's pass found Kolbe who flew over Mo'Unga to score the try. Unfortunately for the Boks, Kolbe's penalty would hit the pole failing to add the extra two points bring the score to 20-15.

However it seemed as though what the Springboks could, the home team could better as an immaculate Beauden Barret found Jordan in the corner in the 68th minute. Richie Mo'Unga converted a tough kick from the corner to stretch the lead to 30-15 going into the final 10 minutes.

A 76th minute try and 77th mintue conversion by talisman Mo'Unga sealed the game for New Zealand, to as the All Blacks went up by 20 points. However, the Springboks are world champions for a reason, scoring a consolation try  through Kwagga Smith's line break. A quick drop kick at goal by Kolbe would go wide and the All Blacks would seal the game a minute later, to win the the Freedom Cup 35-20, a trophy played for by New Zealand and South Africa.