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List Details Violations Across Several Locations
New Zealand stunned South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday, going 1-0 up in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with a five-try statement victory that ended the Springboks' 12-match winning streak. The All Blacks, underdogs heading into the first international of their eight-match tour, took full advantage of the hosts' handling errors and ill-discipline to rock the confidence of the world champions. Will Jordan extended his record as New Zealand's top try scorer with two tries, with Josh Moorby, Fabian Holland and Luke Jacobson also crossing.
Ruben Love kicked four conversions. South Africa's try came from Andre Esterhuizen, with Cheslin Kolbe adding three penalties and a conversion. The attritional contest proved a slugfest as the hosts looked to impose their physicality, but the All Blacks matched them and emerged deserved winners.
"It meant everything, two-try Jordan said. "Ellis Park, what an arena. It was a serious shift and the boys dug deep.
They got a taste of what it is like and I'm proud of our group, it's an awesome start to the series. Test footy is about absorbing pressure and turning yours into points. We withstood a Springbok onslaught, so we're stoked.
The Springboks spurned an early penalty chance in the second minute for a lineout, then botched it, before kicking over the next penalty for the opening points. New Zealand also turned down easy points in the ninth minute, kicking for a lineout from which Jordan scored the first try. Esterhuizen bashed through for South Africa's response, but Moorby slipped two tackles to score in the 23rd minute.
Kolbe's penalty made it 13-12 at halftime, and he added another early in the second half. But Holland charged down a Grant Williams clearance to score in the 48th minute, and Jacobson added a fourth try after Damian McKenzie broke the line. Jordan sealed the 17-point margin with his 53rd international try.
South Africa finished with 13 players after Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were sin-binned in the final 10 minutes. In hindsight there were two or three big moments where we let the game get away from us because New Zealand forced us into errors by being intense and sharp, said coach Rassie Erasmus. The second Test is in Cape Town next Saturday.
The next three Tests follow on successive Saturdays, handing the All Blacks a major psychological advantage. The hosts were always vulnerable to the counter-attack, and their forwards held the upper hand at times but errors stymied their hopes of converting dominance into points. South Africa had won a series of easily kickable penalties to regain the lead but looked to scrum the resistance out of the All Blacks and were met by solid defence.
By that time South Africa had lost their discipline after multiple turnovers. The All Blacks refused to capitulate and were back ahead when giant lock Fabian Holland charged down a clearance from Grant Williams and went over in the 48th minute. South Africa had the chance to take an early lead in the second minute with an easy-looking penalty but opted for a lineout instead, looking to maul over for an early statement try, but botched it.
The next penalty, three minutes later, was then booted over for the opening points of the series. When New Zealand had their first opportunity to level in the ninth minute, they also spurned easy points and opted to kick out for a lineout, from which a maul and snap pass out to the wing put Jordan over for the first try of the four-Test series. Five minutes later, Bok replacement Esterhuizen bashed his way through a porous Kiwi defence and put South Africa back in front.
Source: Independent Sport
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