All Blacks game

'No idea': Foster hails All Blacks, slams 'vicious' media after sinking Springboks as CEO calls presser.

“We did well to come back, but then they controlled the game again until the end. Especially when we were gaining momentum, they were quicker than us to get there.” Generally they controlled the set-pieces and the kicking game. “I’m intensely proud of the performance. So they kept offloading, taking high-risk options, but we did not contain them. The victory still might not save his career, with New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson calling for an afternoon press conference.

Lauire Mains thought the Ellis Park victory was the All Blacks' best performance in the past year while John Hart felt it was one of the best ever overseas.

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. “If a new man comes in, he’s probably going to want his own players and there could be a few changes, who knows?’’ If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. But, if you look at the whole team, I think across the board they all played really well and that’s what you need to get a performance like that. That created doubt in the defence and opened up the opportunities out wide. “Richie Mo’unga directed things really well. He was particularly pleased that the All Blacks “attacked a bit more’’ and felt the All Blacks got their selection right for this test after struggling to find the right combinations for earlier matches. As a former All Blacks backrower and coach Alex Wyllie was disappointed with the team’s series defeat to Ireland, but he described the victory at Ellis Park as “a helluva improvement to what we’ve seen in the previous games’’ this year. He said maybe that might have been because the South African defence was not quite as intense as it had been in Mbombela, but it also had a lot to do with the All Blacks getting better go-forward ball and “giving our backs some time to create some opportunities'’. He said it was “a much-improved performance’’ and the players had “obviously got themselves in the right headspace’ for the Ellis Park challenge. Mains felt the All Blacks matched up at scrum time and were “very competitive at lineout time’’ and “the breakdown was better, they were more aggressive there.

'Boks' coaching failure'. By Mike Greenaway, Iol.co.za. Appalling selections by the Springboks coaching staff came back to haunt their team at Ellis Park on ...

Going into the game at Ellis Park on the back of five defeats in their past six Test matches, the All Blacks were expected to struggle against a powerhouse pack at altitude. Although the Boks dominated the forward battle in the second half, the Kiwis resisted the pressure that was exerted, at times perhaps with the help of English referee Luke Pearce, who did make some perplexing call against the Boks. However, the effort of fighting back might have sucked in the Bok energy while the All Blacks are renowned for winning late on the highveld, and there should have been a sense of dejavu for those who remember some of the other games played in Gauteng over the past 12 years. The All Blacks did something similar at Loftus in 2018, however let it be said that they were nowhere near as good in that game as they were in this one. The Springboks knew a backlash was coming from the ailing All Blacks after the mauling in Mbombela yet they could not deal with it in a first half that belonged to the fiery visitors. Appalling selections by the Springboks coaching staff came back to haunt their team at Ellis Park on Saturday night when the desperate All Blacks came back from the dead of their loss in Nelspruit the week before to beat the Boks 35-23.

The South Island heads both divisions of the Farah Palmer Cup with Canterbury unbeaten in the Premiership and Otago unblemished in the Championship.

The introduction of reserves steaded the North Harbour scrum while former Black Ferns Sevens rep Hayley Hutana was a growing menace. Openside Kennedy Simon tackled herself to a standstill, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland made three clean steals and powerhouse props Tayna Kalounivale and Awhina Tangen-Wainohu both scored tries as the visitors did everything but win the game. Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray was productive with ball in hand as well. She effectively created two tries with an intercept and clever options. It took some inspired play by halfback Emma Jensen to steady the ship. Halfback Kendra Cocksedge then sold a dummy and sailed over for her second try. The lineouts were a lottery and the contest a statemate until Ana Allen was released at the 22 and capped a memorable performance by scoring her second try. Three penalties from her boot keep the visitors in touch and then she tapped from a penalty on halfway and scored to put North Harbour in front 23-22. Canterbury retained the JJ Stewart trophy which they've held since 2017. In the first 25 minutes Northland led 17-6 on the back of an imperious scrum and an ability to find space on the edges. Hawke's Bay struggled with their discipline in the second-half and lost a player to the sin bin. Manawatū finally got on the board in 2022 and Counties Manukau had a big win in Tauranga.

Centre David Havili and lock Scott Barrett scored late tries as the All Blacks eased the pressure on coach Ian Foster with a superb 35-23 victory over South ...

We defended the maul well. "We were a lot better at the breakdown and dealt with the contestables better. "Adversity really challenges your character and this group has that.

Following a 35-23 victory for New Zealand over South Africa in their Rugby Championship clash, here's our five takeaways from the match at Ellis Park.

However, on replay, most of his calls looked on point and it was the early inaccuracy of the Boks that really cost them. In a match with some controversial and complex refereeing decisions, it would be easy for South Africa to go full on Rassie and question some of Luke Pearce’s decisions. In adversity and having to rearrange their backline after Jesse Kriel went off, the passing and the ambition finally clicked. Sure, it’s a very simple game plan, but the key to Springbok tactics is the legality and accuracy that they deliver their plans with. They also performed a lot better in the aerial battle with Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan making some big catches under huge pressure to shore up the usually effective Springbok kick and chase game. Crucially, they edged the battle of the set-pieces and breakdown, a remarkable feat considering their deficiencies last weekend.

Argentina's record win over Australia on Sunday in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship ensured the All Blacks could not afford to lower their sights or ...

"I get used to the personal side, but that's the nature of the job. "In all honesty, I think the playing group has probably been demanding that of me. It was the same when running out to play in front of a big crowd or when referees' decisions went against them. "There's no doubt we had to move some aspects of our game. "I'm not resentful about anything that has happened in the last three weeks. "We wish the road was smooth all the time but, unfortunately, life does throw you a few curve balls.

Turning South Africa's strong points, their kicking, their lineout maul, and their breakdown play into Achilles heels, the All Blacks produced a triumphant ...

South Africa had claimed the lead for the first time in the 66th minute after the All Blacks were punished for two mistakes. That had immediate effect when from a controlled lineout drive in the 36th minute, first five-eighths Handré Pollard flinging a wide ball which saw centre Lukhanyo Am wriggle out of wing Caleb Clarke's tackle in the 36th minute. Moving South Africa around from the outset, the All Blacks created far more chances than in recent outings. Flanker Shannon Frizell and Taukei'aho and prop Ethan de Groot were prominent in gaining ground. That released ball for Jordie Barrett, who had moved to the wing, to kick to the South African right corner. But he lobbed the ball for second five-eighths David Havili who stretched out to score in the 73rd minute.

The Pumas' one-two punch of Julian 'Slipper Lite' Montoya and Gus Creevy is top class. The All Blacks have found a good 'un to usher in the post-Coles era. Dave ...