The bench did it again
South Africa beat New Zealand 29-24 on Saturday night at FNB Stadium in Soweto, the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Malcolm Marx was the difference. The hooker sat at the centre of a Springbok display Planet Rugby called an “obliteration”. Rassie Erasmus timed his Bomb Squad the way he always seems to, and that bench ran the last 20 minutes.
One Test left. The series ends in Baltimore.
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Savea’s shoulder ends his tour
Ardie Savea came off in the first half. The All Blacks captain has a shoulder problem, and Dave Rennie has ruled him out of the fourth Test.
“It’s the shoulder. I don’t know if it’s dislocated or not, but he definitely won’t travel to the United States,” the New Zealand coach said. He would not hide behind it. “He was massive, but Wallace Sititi came on and played well. We’re not going to use that as a reason.”
Quinn Tupaea is the other worry. The centre limped off with a knee injury, an MCL problem picked up during the match, and Rennie is still waiting on scans. “He wanted to get up and run, but in the end we made the call.”
Five gone before the plane leaves
This tour of South Africa has cost New Zealand a squad’s worth of bodies. Caleb Clarke, George Bell, Anton Segner and Billy Proctor have all gone home. Savea makes five.
Nobody knows who leads the side in Baltimore. Luke Jacobson had the armband in Soweto after captaining the team against the Sharks. Patrick Tuipulotu led against the Stormers and the Lions, Codie Taylor against the Bulls. Jordie Barrett would not be a surprise either.
The All Blacks fly to the States a good deal thinner than they arrived.
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