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New Zealand were 23-13 winners over South Africa this morning in Yokohama. The match was genuinely the battle of the titans with the countries competing in an elite-level contest with brilliant rugby played by both teams.
New Zealand opened the match with a bang. Two early tries scored by the Crusaders duo of winger George Bridge, and second-rower Scott Barrett gave the All Blacks a commanding start.
South Africa did score an early penalty to have a 3-0 lead. Due to the tense battle the score would last until after the opening quarter. New Zealand would strike back with two tries to be well in control at half time.
In the second half a resurgent South Africa would cross for a try. Touching down was the outstanding flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit while fly half Handré Pollard landed the conversion in addition to also kicking a penalty and a drop goal.
All of a sudden the match was alive again, coming back from a 17-3 half-time deficit. New Zealand would be unable to add to their two first half tries which saw penalties from and fly half Richie Mo’unga and fullback Beauden Barrett keeping them ahead to complete a ten point victory.
South Africa have a full week before their next match. It is to be the battle of Africa as the Springboks take-on Namibia in Toyota on Saturday, September 28. New Zealand’s next game will be against Canada on Wednesday, October 02 in Oita.
SCORING
NEW ZEALAND 23
Tries – G. Bridge (24’), S. Barrett (27’)
Cons – R. Mo’unga 2/2 (25’, 28’)
Pens – R. Mo’unga 2/3 (22’, 66’), B. Barrett 1/1 (72’)
SOUTH AFRICA 13
Tries – P. du Toit (47’)
Cons – H. Pollard 1/1 (48’)
Pens – H. Pollard 1/2 (2’)
Drop goals – H. Pollard 1/1 (59’)
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Joe Moody (17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi 50’), 2 Dane Coles (16 Codie Taylor HT), 3 Nepo Laulala (18 Angus Ta’avao 50’), 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett (20 Shannon Frizell 76’), 6 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (19 Patrick Tu’ipulotu HT), 8 Kieran Read (capt.), 9 Aaron Smith (21 TJ Perenara 62’), 10 Richie Mo’unga (23 Ben Smith 67’), 11 George Bridge, 12 Ryan Crotty (22 Sonny Bill Williams 50’), 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Beauden Barrett
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Steven Kitshoff (17 Tendai Mtawarira 67’), 2 Malcolm Marx (16 Bongi Mbonambi 62’), 3 Frans Malherbe (18 Trevor Nyakane 54’-76’), 4 Eben Etzebeth (19 RG Snyman 70’), 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.) (20 Francois Louw 50’), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 9 Faf de Klerk (21 Herschel Jantjies 71’), 10 Handré Pollard, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Lukhanyo Am (23 Jesse Kriel 62’), 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 15 Willie le Roux
Not used: 22 Frans Steyn
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistants: Romain Poite (France) & Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
