NZL
No.Name
15Jordie Barrett, FB
T
14Ben Smith, W
13Anton Lienert-Brown, C
12Ryan Crotty, C
11Rieko Ioane, W
T
2
10Beauden Barrett, FH
2
9Aaron Smith, SH
T
1Karl Tu'inukuafe, P
2Codie Taylor, H
T
3Owen Franks, P
4Sam Whitelock, L
5Scott Barrett, L
6Liam Squire, FL
7Sam Cane, FL
8Kieran Read, N8
Replacements
16Liam Coltman, R
17Tim Perry, R
18Ofa Tu'ungafasi, R
19Patrick Tuipulotu, R
20Ardie Savea, R
T
21TJ Perenara, R
22Jack Goodhue, R
23Damian McKenzie, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Sky Stadium
8:35 AM, September 15, 2018
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+334-36 End of second half
80'Thanks for your company, and be sure to stay with us as we cover the Australia-Argentina Test on the Gold Coast. It has a lot to live up to after the humdinger in Wellington.
80'"We'll learn a lot out of that," says Kieren Read.
80'South Africa are deserving winners in Wellington. They were given no chance by virtually everyone, but they've produced their best effort in years. New Zealand had enough ball and territory to win the game several times over, but they couldn't break the line. Kieren Read said they put our "skills under pressure".
80'Siya Kolisi has "no words" to describe the victory.
80'Heroic effort from South Africa.
80'South Africa have won in New Zealand for the first time since 2009.
80'New Zealand go wide, but Damian McKenzie drops it cold.
80'2 metres from tryline.
80'New Zealand going through phases, while the Springboks fan their defence. Boks not committing to breakdown.
80'New Zealand go left, but Ryan Crotty can't get the offload away.
80'And we have scrum reset with the front row down.
79'New Zealand are stopped short by the right upright. New Zeland have a 5m centre-field scrum.
78'NZ camped on the South African tryline.
78'New Zealand pressure the Boks scrum and Handre Pollard has to rush a clearance. NZ lineout just 12 metres out.
77'New Zealand have had 70 percent possession, and South Africa have made 192 tackles. That shows how well South Africa have defended.
76'Aphiwe Dyantyi does well to pull down Damian McKenzie. The ball goes wide to the opposite flank but Ofa Tuungafasi knocks on when New Zealand looked likely to score.
76'New Zealand deep on attack after the Boks drop a simple ball in midfield.
76'Substitute on - Liam Coltman , New Zealand
76'Player substituted - Codie Taylor , New Zealand
74'Beauden Barrett hits the post again with another simple conversion attempt. He's brilliant as an attacking player but goalkicking really is his Achilles heel.
74'34-36 Try - Ardie Savea , New Zealand
73'That is brilliant from the New Zealand pack. The won the lineout from about 20 metres, and they drive the Boks back over their line for Ardie Savea to touch down. That's as good as it gets as far as tries from driving mauls go.
71'Damian McKenzie floats a pass to put Rieko Ioane into space, but Faf de Klerk gets across to stop the winger. New Zealand come back for another penalty, and Nigel Owens has warned the Springboks that another penalty will receive a yellow card. mentions the word "cynical".
71'
70'South Africa have now made 161 tackles to New Zealand's 45.
69'Player substituted - Sam Cane , New Zealand
69'Substitute on - Ardie Savea , New Zealand
69'Substitute on - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
69'Player substituted - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
68'Brilliant hands in the New Zealand backs, but South Africa pull down Damian McKenzie 5 metres from the line and NZ then knock on. Courageous D from the Boks.
67'New Zealand driving tight round ruck and maul after the ensuing scrum, but they can't create space for Rieko Ioane. He's driven into touch and South Africa clear their lines.
67'Yellow card - Willie Le Roux , South Africa
66'New Zealand break -- brilliant from Jack Goodhue -- but Warren Whiteley does equally well to haul down TJ Perenara. New Zealand spill the ball forward, but Willie Le Roux is pinged for deliberate offside.
66'Player substituted - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
66'Substitute on - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
66'Player substituted - Siya Kolisi , South Africa
66'Substitute on - Francois Louw , South Africa
65'The All Blacks lose the ball forward, and the opportunity is lost. The New Zealand bench is having a major impact on the intensity and pace of the All Blacks; they've definitely lifted in the past 5 minutes although the crowd support is still nervous rather than expectant.
65'Player substituted - Frans Malherbe , South Africa
65'Substitute on - Wilco Louw , South Africa
64'
63'South Africa concede another midfield penalty, and Beauden Barrett roosts it deep into South Africa territory again. This time to the right touchline.
62'Beauden Barrett could have thrown the conversion over, but he hits the post. Seemed a certain two points that could yet prove crucial at the death.
61'New Zealand go to Sam Whitelock as the back of the lineout, and they set up a rolling maul. The pack drive over the Boks' line and Codie Taylor touches down.
61'29-36 Try - Codie Taylor , New Zealand
59'New Zealand have an attacking 5m lineout after a brilliant touchfinder from Beauden Barrett.
59'Player substituted - Karl Tu'inukuafe , New Zealand
59'Substitute on - Tim Perry , New Zealand
59'Player substituted - Jordie Barrett , New Zealand
59'Substitute on - Damian McKenzie , New Zealand
59'Substitute on - Jack Goodhue , New Zealand
59'Player substituted - Anton Lienert-Brown , New Zealand
59'Player substituted - Liam Squire , New Zealand
59'Substitute on - Patrick Tuipulotu , New Zealand
57'24-36 Try - Aphiwe Dyantyi , South Africa
56'Brilliant try from the Springboks, putting the ball through hands before Elton Jantjies went over the top to Warren Whitely, who feeds Aphiwe Dyantyi. The winger then shows great speed and footwork to score in the corner.
55'South Africa back in the New Zealand 22, playing like the All Blacks with perfect short balls and pop passes. One wonders where was this level of commitment and execution in Brisbane. Phenomenal performance full of skill, passion and excellent decision making.
54'24-31 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
52'Rieko Ioane does amazingly well to get over the line in the left corner, beating two cover tackles after collecting a poor chicken-wing tackle from Beauden Barrett. The chance looked to have been lost from the scrum when Kieran Read went to the blindside without a supporting runner, but the New Zealand forwards got there to recover the ball.
52'22-31 Try - Rieko Ioane , New Zealand
51'Substitute on - RG Snyman , South Africa
51'Player substituted - Eben Etzebeth , South Africa
50'Strong scrummage from Springboks, dismantling the All Blacks, and they're unlucky to be pinged for coming round the corner. Didn't seem a lot wrong with the set piece.
50'Substitute on - TJ Perenara , New Zealand
50'Player substituted - Aaron Smith , New Zealand
49'New Zealand notably going tight rather than spreading the pill, but South Africa's defence is solid. NZ knock on but Warren Whiteley is offside. New Zealand take the scrum option to the left of the sticks.
48'Player substituted - Damian de Allende , South Africa
48'Substitute on - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
48'Player substituted - Owen Franks , New Zealand
48'Substitute on - Ofa Tu'ungafasi , New Zealand
46'Beauden Barrett kicks deep for an attacking lineout inside the Boks' 22. New Zealand looking to spread the play but South Africa's defence is magnificent. Barrett goes to the air, under penalty advantage, but Willie Le Roux defuses the bomb. New Zealand elect to kick for another lineout rather than take a certain 3 points.
44'South Africa now lead by 14 points, and they're looking good -- especially with the offensive driving tackles. New Zealand more than anyone can scores back-to-back tries quickly, but they're under a bunch of pressure here and they're making errors in execution and decision-making.
44'South Africa now lead by 14 points, and they're looking good -- especially with the offensive driving tackles. New Zealand more than anyone can scores back-to-back tries quickly, but they're under a bunch of pressure here and they're making errors in execution and decision-making.
43'17-31 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
42'Incredible. Aaron Smith takes a quick tap and go, and they try to go wide but Cheslin Kolbe intercepts a pass from Anton Lienert-Brown and canters clear to score untouched.
42'17-29 Try - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
41'Player substituted - Lukhanyo Am , South Africa
41'Substitute on - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
41'+117-24 End of first half
41'+117-24 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
40'We're back under way, and South Africa make a great exit from the kick-off. Solid, structured start to the second stanza from South Africa. Aphiwe Dyantyi collects and up and under but the pass goes loose.
40'We have a Test Match. What a turnaround. New Zealand led 12-0 and looked set to record a runaway victory, but South Africa dug in and scored three tries to stun the hosts and their fans. Steve Hansen will be disappointing with some of the decisions in the final 15 minutes of the first half, and no doubt he'll be preaching the need to execute basic skills. Perhaps his players got ahead of themselves at 12-0 given the shape of the game at that point. South African must continue to do what they did in the final 25 minutes of the stanza, and they know surely that the ABs will return with a renewed intensity.

40'New Zealand show their mentality by continuing to play after the siren, but they spill the ball forward under pressure and then concede a kickable penalty.
40'17-24 Start of second half
38'17-21 Try - Rieko Ioane , New Zealand
37'Rieko Ioane walks over for his third try against South Africa to cap a period of sustained New Zealand pressure.
33'12-21 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
32'12-19 Try - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
31'New Zealand now have to show their mental strength as well as their undoubted skills to recover a nine-point deficit. South Africa have really stepped up having trailed 12-0 and looked in danger of ignominy.
31'South Africa are over again, with Malcolm Marx touching down after a driving maul from a lineout. The atmosphere has changed substantially in Wellington.
29'South Africa bust the New Zealand line, with Steven Kitshoff impressive, but they can't create space and New Zealand effect a turnover with a strong counter-ruck before conceding a penalty for hands in the same ruck.
28'And now New Zealand are making errors - Beauden Barrett overkicking his kickpass to Ryan Crotty. South Africa lineout just outside the 22, and the Boks have an opportunity to pressure the All Blacks defence.
26'12-14 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
25'12-12 Try - Willie Le Roux , South Africa
24'
24'Oh, my. Willie Le Roux is over under the posts. Brilliant work to effect a turnover and Willie Le Roux kicks behind the line. Aphiwe Dyantyi collects and kicks ahead under pressure from Beauden Barrett, Ball goes for a lineout, which Jordie Barrett takes quickly, but Le Roux anticipates the long pass and intercepts to score. Amazing tun of events.
21'There was a sense that South Africa had to be next to score, as New Zealand looked "on" while the Boks were looking tired having been asked to make three times as many tackles in the opening quarter of the match - missing 10. They now need to hang tough and courageous on defence.
21'12-7 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
20'12-5 Try - Aphiwe Dyantyi , South Africa
19'Brilliant response from South Africa. Simple football to get over the gainline and then Malcolm Marx and Willie Le Roux combine to put Aphiwe Dyantyi over the line.

18'12-0 Conversion - Beauden Barrett , New Zealand
16'10-0 Try - Aaron Smith , New Zealand
15'Magnificent try from New Zealand, set up by a beautiful no-look pop pass from Codie Taylor. Ben Smith looping round scythed into space and Aaron Smith runs a wonderful support line to take the pass and skip over.
12'Willie Le Roux spills the ball in contact while trying to find Aphiwe Dyantyi. South Africa trying to push passes that don't need to be made. They're clearly feeling pressured even though just five points behind. Need to do the basics and get a foothold.
9'Brilliant counter from New Zealand, after effecting a turnover when Eben Etzebeth tries to recycle. Scythed through the defence on the right, with Ben Smith brilliant, and Anton Lienert-Brown is stopped just short by scrambling defence. Brilliant from New Zealand, but South Africa recovered well to prevent the score.
7'Kieran Read brilliant over the ball to effect a turnover for NZ, and they launch an immediate counter that comes to nought when Rieko Ioane can't grab a pass that goes behind him.
7'New Zealand knock on from the kick-off under pressure. South Africa have their first territory of the game.
5'No defence there to stop Jordie Barrett after a little pop pass from his brother. Great handling from the All Blacks in the lead-up tho that score. Nothing wrong with the D; just tremendous attacking skills from NZ.

5'5-0 Try - Jordie Barrett , New Zealand
3'Solid, offensive defence early from the Boks. Generally stopping the All Blacks hard and behind the gainline.
2'New Zealand awarded a penalty after Eben Etzebeth took out Aaron Smith, and New Zealand kick for an attacking lineout inside the 22.
1'And we're underway with Handre Pollard kicking off for South Africa. And he's overcooked it. Kicked it dead. Scrum back on halfway.
1'So it's Ka Mate. The original. A mark of respect.
1'Beautiful rendition of both anthems. Plenty of passion. Now for the Haka. Interesting to see which is rolled out given the media talk this week about a diminished rivalry between the teams.
1'South Africa simply must execute better than they did against Argentina and Australia. They also need to play from the opening whistle and continue for 80 minutes. And they must muscle up in defence. And look to go forward before going wide. Do that, and they and their fans likely will be happy whatever the result.
1'
1'

1'Hello and welcome to our Live Text Commentary for the opening game of The Rugby Championship round four, between New Zealand and South Africa in Wellington.

There's been a few newslines this week after the All Blacks survived a stern challenge from Argentina in Nelson in round three while the Springboks lost to Australia in a turgid, mistake-riddled affair in Brisbane.

The week began from a Springboks point of view with head coach Rassie Erasmus saying his future depended on the result vs. All Blacks; interesting given he's also the Director of Rugby. As if that weren't interesting enough assistant coach Matt Proudfoot said that transformation and Rugby World Cup preparations were the priority over short-term results.

Meanwhile, Steve Hansen had a little fun, as he likes to do, by suggesting the Boks were favourites for the game.

Here's our preview of the game, with John Goliath believing that a snowball stands a better chance in hell than the Boks hold in Wellington.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2018 News