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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Dominant South Africa compound New Zealand's misery as All Blacks drop to all-time low

The Springboks added to the All Blacks' misery with a convincing 26-10 victory in Mbombela that pushed New Zealand down to an all-time low of fifth in the world.

The world champions lost scrum-half Faf de Klerk after just 43 seconds after the 30-year-old's head collided with Caleb Clarke's knee while making a tackle. However, Jacques Nienaber's side recovered from that early setback to put in a dominant performance as they dismantled the All Blacks - consigning the defending champions to a fifth defeat in six matches.

It took just eight minutes for the Boks to cross the whitewash, with Kurt-Lee Arendse racing over after a perfect offload from Lukhanyo Am.

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The home side perhaps should have gone into the break further ahead than the 10-3 half-time scoreline, with Handre Pollard and Jordie Barrett both getting on the scoreboard from the tee. Barrett's solitary penalty was as much as Ian Foster's side could muster in terms of troubling the scorers for much of the 80 minutes, with their attack looking distinctly ordinary.

More points from the boot of Pollard, including a snap drop goal, extended South Africa's lead in the second half. The final of those penalties ensured there was a margin of more than 15 points - consigning the All Blacks to fall below England in the rankings to a new low of fifth.

There was a late flashpoint in the final few minutes, with try-scorer Arendse shown a red card for taking out Beauden Barrett in the air. A brief check with the TMO found no mitigation, leading referee Angus Gardner to send off the Boks winger, who was injured in the collision and ultimately left the pitch on a stretcher.

A late consolation try from Shannon Frizzell after a break from Clarke had appeared to ensure the losing margin wouldn't be enough to see the All Blacks drop to an all-time low of fifth in the world rankings. However, a last-gasp try from replacement Willie le Roux restored the Springboks' deserved margin on the scoreboard and served to only pile more pressure on Foster.

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