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08/07 14:45 CDT All Blacks pull away late in flattering 38-21 win over the
Stormers
All Blacks pull away late in flattering 38-21 win over the Stormers
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) --- New Zealand's first full-scale tour of South
Africa in 30 years began with an underwhelming 38-21 win over the Stormers on
Friday.
The scoreline flattered a scratch All Blacks side which was favored by at least
30 points.
The makeshift Stormers in preseason mode rallied twice to tie the score, which
was knotted at 14 until there were 13 minutes to go. When the Stormers lost
their second scrumhalf and had no more reserves backs, the patched-up backline
was ruthlessly exposed by New Zealand, which scored three tries in the last
eight minutes.
But the result only papered over a performance that was blighted by
ill-discipline --- three yellow cards --- and a struggling set-piece. They
overcame those with six tries to three by the Stormers in front of a
non-sell-out crowd of 47,130.
The good news for the All Blacks was they appeared to finish with no major
injuries, seven players made their first appearance in the black jersey this
year, and two more made their debuts off the bench; prop Siale Lauaki and
inside back Josh Jacomb.
But the most impressive players in the stadium were Stormers flyhalf Yaqeen
Ahmed, who looked comfortably cool in his first-class debut at age 20, and
flanker Deon Fourie, the dynamo who will be 40 next month.
No All Black seemed to push a persuasive case to start in the hyped-up Greatest
Rivalry test series that begins in two weeks. They next play the Sharks in
Durban on Tuesday.
New Zealand was brilliant out of the blocks with cleverly worked breaks by
Peter Lakai and Leroy Carter. Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scored the tour's
first try from a lineout drive in the fifth minute. Beauden Barrett converted
then dribbled to the tryline only to knock on under pressure.
But for the next 20 minutes they were pinned in their half by the Stormers
thanks to a string of penalties --- starting with the first of three against
New Zealand tighthead Pasilio Tosi for collapsing the scrum.
The Stormers were unlucky. Seabelo Senatla knocked on on the tryline after a
kickpass by Ahmed and hooker Andr-Hugo Venter had a try ruled out by
obstruction. While that was overturned video revealed foul play by New
Zealand's Simon Parker, who was yellow-carded and joined Anton Lienert-Brown in
the sin-bin.
While the All Blacks had 13 men for seven minutes, Fourie scored from a lineout
drive in his second match against New Zealand: The other was the 2023 World Cup
final which he played with an injured shoulder. He tore an ACL soon after and
has just recovered from ligament damage. Ahmed converted.
A quick tapped penalty by New Zealand and a long pass by Billy Proctor set up a
try by Parker so they could lead 14-7 at halftime.
The Stormers lost captain and center Ruhan Nel to start the new half, leaving
them with no more replacement backs on their 6-2 bench. In the meantime,
Senatla, the former sevens star, scored from lineout ball and gave his
trademark celebratory bow.
The All Blacks continued to lack cohesion until a series of pick and goes
finished with wing Rieko Ioane scoring for 21-14.
At the same time, Stormers backup scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage left injured,
forcing Senatla to play nine and flanker Hacjivah Dayimani to go on the wing.
The All Blacks took advantage with tries by Leroy Carter, fullback Josh Moorby
and hooker Asafo Aumua.
Moorby finished the game in the sin-bin and conceded a penalty try for
illegally preventing Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant from scoring.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
