All Blacks Loose Second South Africa Match

The All Blacks have fallen short against the South Africans for a second straight week going down 18-12 in Cape Town on Sunday morning. The All Blacks had led 9-3 at half time but conceded two tries to South Africa and saw prop Tyrel Lomax yellow carded late in the match for a late tackle. First five Damian McKenzie missed a late penalty shot to take the lead before substitute hooker Malcolm Marx scored South Africa's second try to seal the match.

New Zealand: 12

Penalties: Damian McKenzie 4

South Africa: 18

Tries: Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx, Conversions: Handre Pollard, Penalties: Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

All Blacks Named For Second South Africa Match

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made several changes to his side for the second Rugby Championship match against South Africa this Sunday morning, 3.00am NZT.

Robertson has made four changes to his starting side and one in the reserves, with both Ethan Blackadder and Caleb Clarke are unavailable through injury. Wallace Sititi gets his first start at the run on side at blindside flanker, and Cortez Ratima gains his second test start at halfback with TJ Perenara dropping to the reserves. In the backs wings Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece start, with Will Jordan moving to fullback, and Beauden Barrett dropping to the reserves.

New Zealand All Blacks:  

1.    Tamaiti Williams
2.    Codie Taylor
3.    Tyrel Lomax 
4.    Scott Barrett (C) 
5.    Tupou Vaa’i 
6.    Wallace Sititi  
7.    Sam Cane  
8.    Ardie Savea (VC) 
9.    Cortez Ratima  
10.  Damian McKenzie
11.  Mark Tele’a
12.  Jordie Barrett (VC) 
13.  Rieko Ioane
14.  Sevu Reece 
15.  Will Jordan 
 
16. Asafo Aumua 
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Sam Darry 
20. Luke Jacobson 
21. TJ Perenara
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Beauden Barrett
 

All Blacks Go Down Against South Africa

The All Blacks have suffered a narrow 31-27 loss to South Africa at Ellis Park after leading late in the match. The All Blacks led 12-11 at half time but ill-discipline and a 14-5 penalty count against them proved crucial after they surrendered a 27-17 lead with 13 minutes to go. It did not help with the awarding of a controversial try earlier that the bunker had confirmed, although replays showed hooker Bongi Mbonambi clearly loosing the ball in his scoring action.

New Zealand: 27 

Tries: Codie Taylor, Caleb Clarke 2, Jordie Barrett, Conversions: Damian McKenzie 2, Penalty: McKenzie 

South Africa: 31 

Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2, Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 4

All Blacks Assistant Coach Leon MacDonald Quits

All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald has resigned from his position, and will not travel with the All Blacks to South Africa for the Rugby Championship matches. Fronting media on Thursday, coach Scott Robertson has said a difference in views on coaching the All Blacks saw MacDonald step away. MacDonald will not be replaced, with current assistant coach Scott Hansen and contact skills coach Tamati Ellison taking a greater workload until the end of the season.

All Blacks Defeat Argentina In Second Match

The All Blacks have bounced back from the shock defeat in Wellington to record a 42-10 win over Argentina at Eden Park in Auckland. In wet conditions, the All Blacks started off strong in the first half scoring five tries to lead 35-3 at half time with a much improved forward pack leading the charge. The second half saw an early try to Will Jordan, but the All Blacks were unable to carry the momentum after making multiple substitutions early in the half.

All Blacks: 42 

Tries: Damian McKenzie, Ardie Savea, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan 2, Beauden Barrett, Conversions: McKenzie

Argentina: 10

Try: Juan Cruz Mallia, Penalty: Santiago Carreras, Conversion: Thomas Albornoz

All Blacks Named For Second Argentina Match

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made several changes to his side to face Argentina in the second match of the Rugby Championship at Auckland's Eden park on Saturday at 7.05pm. Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams replaces Ethan de Groot, who is out with a neck injury, while in the backs Rieko Ioane replaces Anton Lienert-Brown at centre and wings Caleb Carke and Will Jordan replace Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece who drop back to the reserves bench. Also in the reserves, former captain Sam Cane replaces Wallace Sititi. 

All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea (c), Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: 

Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a.

All Blacks Named To Face Argentina

All Black coach Scott Robertson has named his side to face Argentina in Wellington on Saturday 7.05pm in their Rugby Championship opening match. With Scoot Barrett out injured, the side will be captained by number eight Ardie Savea, while TJ Perenara returns at halfback after being out with a leg injury, and Beauden Barrett starts at fullback.

1.    Ethan De Groot
2.    Codie Taylor (vc)
3.    Tyrel Lomax
4.    Tupou Vaa’i
5.    Sam Darry
6.    Ethan Blackadder
7.    Dalton Papali’i
8.    Ardie Savea (c)
9.    TJ Perenara
10.  Damian McKenzie
11.  Mark Tele’a
12.  Jordie Barrett (vc)
13.  Anton Lienert-Brown
14.  Sevu Reece
15.  Beauden Barrett

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Josh Lord
20. Wallace Sititi
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Rieko Ioane
23. Will Jordan