South Africa 15-57 New Zealand: All Blacks complete clean sweep in Rugby Championship
Last Updated: 08/10/16 11:46pm
New Zealand confirmed their status as the best team in the world with a 57-15 thrashing of the Springboks in Durban.
It was the sixth consecutive bonus-point win for the world champions, giving them a total of 30 competition points in the Rugby Championship - the maximum on offer.
Three penalties from Morne Steyn kept the Springboks in the game up until the break, with New Zealand 12-9 up at half-time after tries from Israel Dagg and TJ Perenara. But as has so often been the case with Steve Hansen's side, they were able to ramp things up in the second half. Perenara and Dagg both added a try to their individual tallies, while Beauden Barrett (2), Codie Taylor, Ben Smith and Liam Squire also crossed the line for 45 second-half points.
The win takes New Zealand to 17 consecutive Test wins, which brings them level with the record for the most successive wins by a Tier 1 nation. The All Blacks' next match is against Australia in Auckland in two weeks' time, which will be live on Sky Sports.
Things started well for South Africa when slotted his first penalty attempt after five minutes and Barrett, who began the game as the leading Rugby Championship scorer this season with 65 points, fluffed his first shot at goal.
South Africa were gaining little possession but defended with a lot more spirit than in recent matches in the competition.
Steyn slotted another penalty to double the lead to six points before the All Blacks scored their first try through right winger Dagg at the beginning of the second quarter. It was a typical New Zealand score with backs and forwards applying pressure in the danger zone and when the ball was moved wide, a quick pass from flanker Jerome Kaino sent Dagg over.
Barrett was out of luck with the conversion, which struck the near post, leaving the Springboks 6-5 ahead. Given another penalty chance, Steyn made no mistake and the home side led by four points as the match passed the 30-minute mark.
The visitors took the lead for the first time when Perenara was awarded a try after numerous replays were shown to the referee, his assistant and the television match official.
Perenara appeared to have lost control of the ball forward before dotting down, but he got the nod and Barrett converted for a 12-9 advantage the All Blacks retained until half-time. Shortly before the final whistle New Zealand thought they had scored another try through lock Brodie Retallick, but it was ruled out for obstruction.
The second half began as the first ended with the All Blacks on the offensive and Dagg notched his fifth try of this Championship within five minutes of the restart. Once again he went over far out, after passes from Perenara and Barrett set him up, and the fly-half failed to convert, his third miss from four shots at goal.
A Steyn penalty kept the Springboks in the hunt, but when full-back Patrick Lambie had a clearance charged down, Barrett won the chase for the loose ball to score.
It was becoming an uneven contest between the goal kicking of Steyn and the try-scoring world champions and after the Springboks playmaker slotted a fifth penalty, his side conceded a fifth try.
Full-back Smith was the catalyst, winning an aerial duel with Lambie, and slick handling resulted in Perenara scoring and Barrett converting for a 29-15 lead. It went from bad to worse in the closing stages for South Africa as Barrett converted his try and Lima Sopoaga added the extra points to scores by fellow substitute, hooker Taylor, full-back Smith and replacement flanker Squire.
