New Zealand were made to work hard for victory as they began their tour of South Africa with a competitive 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Dave Rennie’s side will play eight matches across the next few weeks, including four Tests against the Springboks, as part of the new “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” reciprocal touring agreement. These tour games offer an opportunity for the new head coach to examine his depth, but a sloppy performance in parts may not have pleased Rennie. The tourists did, though, have enough to power away late on, with the All Blacks forced to flex their muscles with much of their attacking play failing to fire.
While the Stormers fell short, this was another showing to illustrate the depth within South African rugby – and home coach John Dobson could rue some rough injury luck that forced him to replace two scrum halves and finish the game with a flanker on the wing.
Follow all of the latest from the clash in Cape Town with our live blog below:
FT: Stormers 21-38 New Zealand
A perfect start, really, to this Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour – the All Blacks sloppy but successful against spirited opposition, who will rue some poor injury luck and their own missed chances. A good crowd in Cape Town there to enjoy it, too. Pleasing fare to open the series!
TRY! Stormers 21-38 NEW ZEALAND (Asafo Aumua, 81 minutes)
There’s the exclamation point! Asafo Aumua with the finish after roaring away from a rumbling maul – the hooker is tough to stop at the best of times, let alone for the Stormers backs exposed on the fringes there.
That’ll do it in Cape Town.
Stormers 21-33 New Zealand, 80 minutes
Well, that’s one way to slam the door shut. An emphatic scrum shove from the All Blacks to earn a penalty and one last tilt at the hosts’ line.
PENALTY TRY! STORMERS 21-33 New Zealand (78 minutes)
A twist? It’s a penalty try, with Moorby deemed to have denied Warrick Gelant the chance to place the ball on the line.
Surely too little, too late…but the Stormers will have about 90 seconds more against a 14-man All Blacks as Moorby is sent to the sin bin for a cynical act.
Stormers 14-33 New Zelanad, 78 minutes
Oh, the Stormers have had their chances! The defence opens up in front of Warrick Gelant and the full-back hurries through it, and very nearly to the line. He’s just felled and can’t contort the ball to ground – although TMO Andrew Jackson isn’t sure that Josh Moorby’s denying actions are legal…
TRY! Stormers 14-33 NEW ZEALAND (Josh Moorby, 76 minutes)
Ah…Hacjivah Dayimani isn’t a winger! A tough moment for the flanker forced into an unfamiliar role, trying his best to play the part as he attempts a clearance but failing to clear the midriff of a blocking Josh Moorby. Moorby scurries, scoops, and scores.
Stormers 14-28 New Zealand, 75 minutes
That may be the Stormers’ chances gone…particularly if they keep missing lineouts like that. JJ Kotze overshoots his target at the tail after New Zealand had conceded a penalty to allow the hosts a chance.
TRY! Stormers 14-28 NEW ZEALAND (Leroy Carter, 74 minutes)
And there’s no team better at exploiting it! It’s all athleticism, really, from Peter Lakai and Leroy Carter, the former providing the step and gas and outrageous backdoor offload, the latter the fast feet and contact balance to finish off the initial line break.
Josh Jacomb knocks over the conversion.
Stormers 14-21 New Zealand, 72 minutes
It looks like Dayimani has been doing this all his life! He retreats to cover an excellent kick, and then shows a deft feint to get away from an All Blacks chaser.
The Stormers soon fumble, though, and allow New Zealand broken-field ball…
