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Rugby news 2022: Springbok triumph adds to woes of embattled All Blacks, South Africa vs New Zealand score

South Africa has defeated New Zealand 26-10 on Sunday morning AEST in the Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela, adding to the woes of the embattled All Blacks.

New Zealand flew to South Africa having lost four of their previous five matches amid calls for coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane to be sacked.

Foster and Cane will now know that another defeat to the arch foes when the teams clash again next Saturday in Johannesburg will almost certainly spell the end for both of them.

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The ferocity of the Springboks constantly unsettled the All Blacks, who were lucky to trail only 10-3 at halftime having been outplayed in the opening 40 minutes.

New Zealand did win more possession in the second half but basic errors cost them and their only try, from replacement loose forward Shannon Frizell, arrived when South Africa were reduced to 14 men.

Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, scorer of the first South African try, was red-carded on 75 minutes after fouling airborne fly-half Beauden Barrett.

“It was exactly what we wanted. We wanted to be upfront,” said South Africa captain and flanker Siya Kolisi.

“Our high balls were good. We did all the things we wanted to do. We made the tackles, we know how dangerous they can be. They have a couple of players who can break the game open at any time.”

Under-fire Cane said: “A lot of credit has to go to the Springboks, especially the way they played in the first half. They threw a heck of a lot at us. We did well to absorb that but it took a lot out of us.

“They are extremely good at applying pressure. Their kicking game was good, they probably won that as well.”

South African hooker Malcolm Marx was warmly greeted by the sellout 42,367 crowd in recognition of him winning his 50th cap when he ran on to the field ahead of his teammates in the northeastern city.

There was a dramatic start to the southern hemisphere championship opener with Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk knocked out after his head struck the knee of All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke.

De Klerk had to be stretched off, but received lengthy applause when he appeared on the sideline midway through the opening half having failed a head injury assessment test.

Inexperienced Jaden Hendrikse, who debuted in a home series against Wales last month, replaced de Klerk just 43 seconds into the match.

Fired-up South Africa dominated early possession and territory and went ahead on eight minutes when Arendse scored his first try for the reigning world champions in only his second appearance.

The New Zealand defense failed to grasp a lofted kick from fly-half Handre Pollard and center Lukhanyo Am fed Arendse, who raced over the tryline.

Unpredictable goal-kicker Pollard did well to convert from the touchline and increased the lead to 10 points on 22 minutes by slotting a close-range penalty.

There was a sudden change of momentum as halftime approached with New Zealand, helped by a steadier scrum, awarded four penalties in quick succession.

Fullback Jordie Barrett, one of three brothers in the All Blacks starting line-up, converted one of the penalties on 36 minutes to narrow the gap to seven points and it remained 10-3 until halftime.

In the build-up to the match, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber had emphasized the need to translate dominance into points and will have been disappointed that his team were only seven points in front.

He would have been thrilled with the performance of Marx, though, as the Japan-based front-rower won several turnovers and figured constantly in assaults on the All Blacks.

In the second half, Pollard kicked two penalties and a drop goal to give the home team a 19-3 lead before both teams scored late tries.

Frizell dived over in the corner and fellow substitute Richie Mo’unga converted, then replacement back Willie le Roux scored beside the post and Pollard converted for a personal tally of 16 points.

– AFP

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Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Mitchell Moses, Cam Smith

NRL legend Cameron Smith believes Nathan Cleary’s lengthy ban leading into finals will provide “a blessing in disguise” for the Panthers.

Cleary flipped Penrith’s season on its head when he was sent off for a dangerous lifting tackle on Eels playmaker Dylan Brown last Friday.

The New South Wales Origin star copped a five-match suspension and won’t return for the competition leaders before the finals.

Five-eighth Jarome Luai is also out set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines, after suffering an MCL injury against the Sharks.

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Without the two experienced playmakers leading the team around the park, the Panthers will have to rely on some relatively inexperienced combinations until the finals.

Penrith have turned Jaeman Salmon and Sean O’Sullivan for Saturday’s clash with Canberra, with the Panthers currently six competition points clear of second with five games to play.

But Smith said the break for the duo can become a positive for the reigning NRL premiers.

“I think it can work in their favour,” Smith said on SEN’s The Captain’s Run on Thursday.

“I actually think that giving this football side an opportunity side to play a month or five weeks without Cleary in particular and Jerome Luai, their two main men, it’s their go-to men in attack, I actually think when they return they’ll both be fresh.

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“Nathan Cleary, he’s going to have fresh legs, he’s going to be fresh mentality. He hasn’t had to get up for games for five weeks.

“You could see as soon as he made that tackle he knew he’d let the team down, and the club and the fans. He’s going to come out in that final series and think ‘I’ve got to repay this footy club and my fans for missing five weeks’.

“This footy side can benefit so much from these two guys not being there and guys like Api Koroisau and Isaah Yeo… they’re going to have to shoulder more responsibility now with the way the football team plays.

“I just think they’re going to be a stronger footy side again.”

Penrith have one hand on the minor premiership just over a month out from finals, but they could quickly lose that grip with a couple of losses on the bounce.

The Cowboys are their closest rivals in the race for pole position, but the Sharks are also an outside chance – but are four games back and they have a significantly worse points difference.

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North Queensland host the Panthers in the final round of the regular season, and although it’s unlikely, it’s possible that the two teams clash with the minor premiership on the line.

It’s potentially a season defining a few weeks for the Panthers, who are looking to defend their NRL crown.

“Let’s just say the top four doesn’t change, they take on Melbourne. If they finish first, they’ll be taking on the Storm,” he added.

“The biggest difference this year is they’ll play their first game at home. They’ll be playing at Penrith.

“Whereas last year and I know it was a neutral ground for the Sydney sides, but they played the Rabbitohs up in Townsville and got beaten. They’re a different footy side at home.

“They’ve lost one game there in a thousand years.”

Parramatta are another side who will be without a key player for a majority of their remaining regular season games.

Star playmaker Mitchell Moses has been ruled out with a finger injury, and will spend at least a couple of weeks watching on from the sidelines.

The Eels could potentially drop out of the top eight if they have a bad month, with the Raiders just four-point behind them.

“(Moses) He’s leading the competition for try assists. He’s got 20 try assists, so now with him out, plus his goal kicking, so now they need to find someone to produce points for them.

“They’re going to have to find some points somewhere. Whether Gutho stands up a little bit more, I think Jake Arthur may be playing in the halves this week.

“These remaining five games are crucial.”

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