By Louis Anderson-Rich
Hello and welcome to National Stadium in Soweto where we have the All Blacks looking to extend their 15 game winning-streak after tying up the Rugby Championship last week.
The record winning-streak for a major rugby playing nation is 17 held by both New Zealand and the Springboks.
A win in South Africa would see the All Blacks edge closer to that record, with the end-of-season tour, which has often proved a happy hunting ground, yet to come.
But a win in South Africa isn’t easy and Richie McCaw labels it as much a mental game as a physical one with all the travel, disrupted sleep and Johannesburg heat to deal with.
We’ll bring you video live updates throughout the match, including video highlights of all the big plays and tries.
Make sure you refresh your page occasionally. We’ll add VIDEO COMING SOON when we’re cutting the highlights and VIDEO UP when it’s ready to be viewed.
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LIVE COMMENTARY: All Blacks 32 – 16 Springboks
80 Min: Aaron Cruden sends the penalty wide and that’s fulltime! The All Blacks win!
79 Min: One last opportunity for the All Blacks to close out the game with a try…messy scrum and South Africa penalised so Aaron Cruden will have a kick at goal…
73 Min: All Blacks dominating the game at the moment. Dictating every play. Here is Cory Jane who sends it wide to Ellison who slips one tackle and free’s up Conrad Smith. Now McCaw inside, Weepu to Carter who puts up the cross field kick for Read! Read somehow fumbles it over the line! VIDEO COMING SOON
70 Min: All Blacks win a penalty which Carter will kick at goal to extend New Zealand’s lead…brilliant kick from Carter straight down the middle.
67 Min: South Africa win a lineout five metres from the tryline…here is Strauss….Strauss has another crack! And loses it forwards! Tremendous All Blacks defence!
66 Min: Chance here for South Africa as Taute comes up through the middle, goes wide to du Villiers down the left. Woodcock is chasing and takes him down. Dagg comes in and enters the ruck incorrectly and is penalised. And receives a yellow card! Potential game-changer in Soweto!
64 Min: Gear with a charge at the line now Smith quick hands to Read who also shows his quick hands with a pass to Carter who is tackled on the right wing…now McCaw tries to go straight up the middle…ball slowed down a bit…Read at halfback goes to Messam who is forced back…Smith goes to Dan Carter who goes for the drop kick! It’s over! VIDEO UP
63 Min: Habana with the ball is met by Carter and the ball has been turned over, Smith digs the ball out, goes blindside to Nonu who kicks into the leg of Hougaard and the ball goes out.
VIDEO UP OF CONRAD SMITH TRY
62 Min: South Africa still with the ball until de Villiers has a misunderstanding with Taute and knocks the ball on.
61 Min: Solid All Blacks scrum and Aaron Smith gives the ball to Nonu who is tackled. Smith to Dagg now who puts in a big punt to halfway, hasn’t gone out and Kirschener runs the ball up…now it’s Pienaar to Taute, Jantjies plays halfback and gives it to du Plessis but All Blacks hold strong…
60 Min: In the meantime Kieran Read has gone down with what seems like a shoulder injury…but he gets back up and walks solemnly over to the scrum. He’ll shake it off.
59 min: Pienaar with a good kick that gives South Africa a lineout 5 metres out. South Africa win the lineout and Louwe is at the back of the maul which collapses after some good work from Luke Romano…Boks still have it and Hougaard has a go…now Louwe who is driven back in a Nonu tackle, All Blacks almost turn it over but Springboks hold on and the ball is thrown out to the right wing for Habana! Habana knocks a simple pass on!
58 Min: The All Blacks look to run the ball from behind halfway…Aaron Smith finds Read who is penalised for not releasing…looks like the Springboks are going to go for touch which they need to do if they want to have a chance.
56 Min: And from the resulting scrum there is the first penalty for the All Blacks which Dan Carter will use to have a shot at goal...which he puts just wide from a good 52 metres out.
55 Min: South Africa attack starting to break down as Pienaar throws a pass at Alberts knees and he knocks it on in the middle of the park…
54 Min: and Dan Carter lands the conversion.
53 Min: All Blacks scrum and Read comes off the back, goes to Smith, now Gear to Conrad Smith on the overlap and Conrad Smith bundles over for the TRY! VIDEO UP
52 Min: Keven Mealamu comes on for Andrew Hore.
51 Min: Springboks with a lineout on the halfway line which they win. They form another strong maul…which is eventually stiolen by Woodcok and here is Smith out to the left for Gear who bounces off Habana! He’s still going! He goes down now and Carter has the ball in cenntrefield…Sith away to Nonu who almost breaks the line, quick ball to Messam short pass to McCaw who loses it and Kirschener has wrapped up the loose ball…and is then penalised for knocking it on.
50 Min: Jantjies with the kick which comes off the post. All Blacks control it and Dagg manages to clear it away.
49 Min: It’s untidy but Pienaar gets it to Kirschener…McCaw is penalised for entering the tackle zone incorrectly and he’s warned by the ref that the next time that happens it will be a card. That’s also the ninth penalty against the All Blacks whilst South Africa have conceded nothing.
48 Min: Another poor kick from Carter who’s restart from the 22 finds touch on the full. South Africa with a great attacking opportunity from a scrum on the Abs 22.
47 Min: Jantjies with his third penalty after coming on for an injured Goosen…This time the kick doesn’t have the legs as it fizzes just under the crossbar.
VIDEO UP OF NONU TRY
46 Min: All Blacks win the lineout and Kieran Read comes away with it but there’s no one in support and he doesn’t release the ball so South Africa have another kickable penalty.
45 Min: Read off the back of the scrum to Smith who’s kick comes down on the halfway line, Habana gets up well to take the ball…Elton Jantjies with the kick which has gone into touch on the full from halfway.
44 Min: South Africa with a lineout just past halfway. Can the Boks hit back like New Zealand did? Pienaar with a towering kick and Habana is up getting involved. He hits it back, nope he hits it forwards that is a knock on.
42 Min: Carter’s kick is bang on target.
41 Min: Dan Carter gets the second half underway and Rettalick is up there to claim it straight away now it’s Nonu to Dagg out to Dagg…who offloads to Read, Read into the 22 he goes down and pops it up for Nonu who’s there again and he who goes over! TRY! What a start! VIDEO UP
Both teams back onto the field. More territory is the call from the All Blacks management.
VIDEO UP OF ALL BLACK FIRST HALF TRIES
Our video service is now FIXED, we are very sorry for the delay. Unfortunately there is no footage of the Brian Habana try but the rest of the match highlights are and will be brought to you as we go.
40 Min: 49 metre kick for the young first-five and he nails it and that’s halftime!
39 Min: Scrum to the Springboks in the middle of the park. They go once but the ref stops it to have a chat…second time now and that crumbles so the ref awards a penalty to the Springboks which Jantjies has indicated he will have a go at goal with.
38 Min: Carter’s restart goes into touch on the full…another early change for the Springboks as Francois Louw comes off for Marcel Coetzee.
37 Min: Elton Jantjies first touch of the ball is just before a crunching tackle from Ma’a Nonu who is ruled to have been offside. Kick to come from South Africa…Elton Jantjies with the kick…Which he nails. Good start for the youngster.
36 Min: Johan Goosen has come off early because of injury and he is replaced by Elton Jantjies.
35 Min: Carter with the conversion from right out in front, slots it home.
34 Min: All Blacks off the lineout go to Smith to Nonu who tries to bust the line, now it’s Carter spins out of tackle, gives it off to Gear who goes past one! Smith in support! Gear passes it off to Smith who goes over the line! TRY!
33 Min: Boks with a lineou just behind halfway. Well taken by Vermeulen…Ruan Pienaar with a kick that finds touch.
32 Min: Read off the back of the scrum, he makes some ground…Smith fires it out to Dagg who puts across a great cross-field bomb that just bounces in field before going into touch.
31 Min: Another big bomb from Pienaar and Dagg goes up for it but loses it backwards under pressure from de Villiers who has knocked it on. Scrum to the All Blacks.
30 Min: Smith goes on a bit of a probing run looking for runners, he finds Read who goes wide to Smith who tries to kick the ball back inside but no one is there.
29 Min: All Blacks win the lineout against the throw and here is Smith with a booming punt downfield. Hougaard is under it and takes it nicely. Now Pienaar with the up and under which Dagg has lined up…Here is Smith to Rettalick at first receiver.
28 Min: Goosen picked up an injury in the build up to that try and he is moving very gingerly with the restart.
26 Min: Carter with the conversion from the sideline… can’t bring it around.
25 Min: Clearance hasn’t found touch and Dagg has collected the ball just past halfway. He runs it up, goes to Jane, now Read now Gear who almost slips through two defenders gets the offload away to Read on the overlap! Away one more to Whitelock on the wing! It’s Whitelock with two men to beat! Sam Whitelock goes over! TRY!
24 Min: Goosen finds touch with his kick. Strauss throws the lineout which is easily won by Andries Bekker…South Africa form a maul which is surging a good 15 metres…now Pienaar off the back to de Villiers who drops it and the All Blacks look to counter, here is Smith down the left, throws inside to Read who tries to scramble it back out left…South African winger picks it up but the All Blacks have turned it over again and they try to counter down the right now…Messam charges up field…South Africa turn the ball over though and clear.
23 Min: Hore with the throw, Whitelock wins this one and Smith has put up a big kick but Hougaard takes it very well…and South Africa also get the penalty, that’s the fifth awarded against New Zealand already.
22 Min: All Blacks with the restart…All Blacks almost turn it over but Pienaar eventually clears it away which is taken by Dagg who boots it into touch…South Africa take a quick throw and do the same.
21 Min: So easy three points for South Africa from the penalty.
20 Min: South Africa win the lineout and set up a very strong maul…Pienaar wants it. McCaw isolates the ball carrier though, he’s done well. Now Strauss, now Pienaar to Goosen to de Villiers in a bit of space who throws a big ball over to Habana who picks it up well….Brodie Rettalick has upended him dangerously! Did a couple of somersaults it looked like. South Africa win a penalty for offside and the referees have missed that tackle so no action taken there.
19 Min: All Blacks with a scrum in their own half and Kieran Read comes off the back and gives it to Aaron Smith who kicks the ball out on the full. Lineout back down pretty deep in AB’s territory.
16 Min: South Africa keep the pressure on the All Blacks, and Pienaar stabs a nice grubber through into touch behind into the Abs 22. All Blacks with the throw and they lose it and now South Africa have the ball inside the 22…but they can’t do much with it and the All Blacks eventually win a penalty.
14 Min: Goosen adds the extras.
13 Min: Now from the lineout the ball has come down for Louw who almost bursts through the gap, he goes down but offloads brilliantly to de Villiers who looks around in space! Habana in support! De Villiers passes! Habana cruises over the line! TRY!
12 Min: Pienaar off the back of the scrum makes a fantastic kick downfield, it’s found about 40 metres. All Blacks take the throw quickly and Cory Jane makes a dreadful kick into touch that doesn’t gain New Zealand much ground.
11 Min: Ball is thrown long to Whitelock at the back of the lineout who attempts to touch it down into an oncoming McCaw who had spotted a gap but McCaw knocks it on.
10 Min: Kirschener with a hurried kick from outside the 22 goes into touch on the full. That’s a poor kick and the All Blacks will have their first proper foray into the South Africa half.
9 Min: All Blacks give away a penalty in the lineout…scrum for South Africa. Pienaar feeds, Vermeulen off the back, lays it off for Hougaard and Nonu hits him hard in the tackle. Ball recycled for Pienaar who makes some good ground but Andrew Hore has taken him down and then turned the ball over and Aaron Smith clears it away. Great work from Hore.
7 Min: Goosen with a big bomb from the restart, Carter underneath gives it off to Dagg who hoofs it away down field….now Hougaard who kicks it back to Jane deep in All Blacks territory and he hands it off to Carter who boots it into touch into the South African half…
6 Min: Goosen with his second attempt at goal…and it’s hit the post and the scores remain level.
5 Min: South Africa win another penalty after the All Blacks were offside at the scrum and Liam MEssam has got himself into a bit of push and shove.
4 Min: South Africa do well to win the restart…until the All Blacks turn it over through Whitelock but Liam Messam undoes the good work and knocks the ball on. Scrum to South Africa.
3 Min: Goosen’s first kick is away to the right of the posts.
2 Min: Now Pienaar gets it of to Johan Goosen and he has a bit of space but is shut down quickly by the All Black defence but Andrew Hore has been penalised for joining the ruck incorrectly and South Africa will have the first opportunity to get points on the board.
1 Min: Johan Goosen of South Africa gets the 85th international between the Springboks and the All Blacks underway!...early clearance from Israel Dagg sets up the first lineout of the match…taken by Adriaan Strauss and it is taken nicely by the Boks…here is Ruan Pienaar centre-field just outside the 22…
The noise in the stadium is absolutely phenomenal as the Haka is drowned out by the South African crowd…
Rousing stuff. Now the best pre-match ritual. The Haka…
Now please stand for the national anthems…
Both teams out on the field and both teams are looking pumped…
Not too long to go now until we get started in Soweto. If you’re from New Zealand and you’ve either stayed up or gotten up for this match, good on you. Hopefully we’ll see something pretty monumental unfold here.
Kick off isn’t far away so while you wait you can watch rugby reporter Jim Kayes’ match preview.
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Teams:
All Blacks: 1.Tony Woodcock, 2.Andrew Hore, 3.Owen Franks, 4.Brodie Retallick, 5.Samuel Whitelock, 6.Liam Messam, 7.Richie McCaw (captain), 8.Kieran Read, 9.Aaron Smith, 10.Daniel Carter, 11.Hosea Gear, 12.Ma'a Nonu, 13.Conrad Smith, 14.Cory Jane, 15.Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16.Keven Mealamu, 17.Ben Franks, 18.Luke Romano, 19.Adam Thomson, 20.Piri Weepu, 21.Aaron Cruden, 22.Tamati Ellison.
Springboks: 1.Tendai Mtawarira, 2.Adriaan Strauss, 3.Jannie du Plessis, 4.Eben Etzebeth, 5.Andries Bekker, 6.Francois Louw, 7.Willem Alberts, 8.Duane Vermeulen, 9.Ruan Pienaar, 10.Johan Goosen, 11.Francois Hougaard, 12.Jean de Villiers (captain), 13.Jaco Taute, 14.Bryan Habana, 15.Zane Kirchner.
Reserves: 16.Tiaan Liebenberg, 17.Coenie Oosthuizen, 18.Flip van der Merwe, 19.Marcel Coetzee, 20.Elton Jantjies, 21.Juan de Jongh, 22.Pat Lambie.
Pregame Banter:
Richie McCaw has admitted that beating the Springboks tomorrow morning will be as much a mental challenge for the All Blacks as a physical one.
Travel, disrupted sleep and the Johannesburg heat have taken their toll on the team. But McCaw insists they'll be up for it.
A dead battery delayed the All Blacks’ departure to their captain's run, forcing them to borrow the Springboks’ bus.
Unlike their transport, Richie McCaw says there are no problems with his troublesome leg. And though the All Blacks’ big training session lacked a bit of spark, the skipper insists his team's ready to go.
For the second week, those final preparations again exclude the usual walk through at the match venue.
The All Blacks trained McCaw at wits university, Mccaw saying he'd wanted the players to avoid another bus trip.
He felt that as many of the team played here two years ago, they were already familiar with the stadium built for the 2010 Football World Cup.
They needed two late tries to win there last time and McCaw hopes it doesn't come to that tomorrow.
The skipper's backed number-eight Kieran Read's belief that a loss tomorrow will undo the All Blacks’ eight wins this year.
"We've got to realise we've got a big challenge tomorrow and we're going to have to put our best performance out there,” says McCaw. “But I totally agree with what he said. If we don't get it right it will be disappointing."
Tomorrow's test sees an end to a tour to two countries that love their rugby as much as their steak.
"Tell you what, the last two weeks I've had a fair bit of it,” says McCaw. “I'm just about mooing."
And he hopes the All Blacks are purring tomorrow, along with the bus.
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