🏈TRC Round 6: South Africa v New Zealand🏈

Sunday 8th October, 1:05am
DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa

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^{Damian McKenzie flies over the line, one of his many outstanding performances of the match.}

Bone-Crushing

South Africa was determined not to repeat the crushing loss (57-0) they had against New Zealand last time they met and like always when these two titans meet it was a barbaric test of strength and determination. The match became the battle of the breakdown with many turnovers leading to an exciting game of rugby which did not disappoint. The first half went on for nearly 50 minutes, both teams neither wanting to end play nevertheless neither was able to capitalise on the extra time and the first half ended a meagre 3-8, a tremendously different outcome to the last contest.

Half Time Score

SA 3-8 NZ

^{du Preez clearly happy about scoring his first test try.}

Simply breathtaking

NZ use the break to make a few changes to the team, putting on some fresh legs, and SA continues to bring the pressure which is rewarded very early on with a try right underneath the posts courtesy of a massive scrum win. The Boks now lead 10-8 but at the 60th minute, Ioane makes an intercept and proceeds to outsprint the entire defence to score an 80-metre try, putting NZ once again back into the lead. South Africa make a few changes of their own and it immediately pays off with a nice try just 3 minutes later after man of the match, Malcolm Marx, off-loads to du Preez.

South Africa, unfortunately, can't keep this lead for very long as newly subbed on David Havili flick passes to Damian McKenzie who finds an impossible gap in the Bok back-line and flies over the line. (17-22) With the final minutes ticking down SA suffer a red card for a high tackle and go to 14 men but even that is not enough to stop them continuing to place immense pressure on the All Blacks and SCORE! (24-25). One point in it and only 90 seconds remaining on the clock, plenty of time to do something, especially when the first half went nearly ten minutes over but unfortunately for the Boks NZ are able to turn the ball over again and the match ends.