The All Blacks retained their unbeaten record on tour in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry when they defeated a game Hollywoodbets Sharks side 54-0 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday evening.
The All Blacks Haka was met by Ma’a Nonu’s rendition of a warrior challenge back at the team he performed so admirably for, setting the scene for a highly competitive match.
The persistent rainfall over the last two days did little to dampen the tourists’ fervour and they delivered as they were expected to against an enthusiastic Hollywoodbets Sharks team.
While there can be no faulting the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ commitment and effort, the game management by the touring internationals proved to be the home side’s undoing as the All Blacks controlled the game with their experience and tactical nous.
The opening 10 minutes – aside from one sortie from the All Blacks that yielded no reward – was dominated by the Hollywoodbets Sharks, possession and territory putting their much-vaunted opponents under severe pressure and almost realising a try, but for the player held up over the line.
Although not completely outplayed, it was the All Blacks who broke a 19-minute deadlock to score the opening try of the match, the water slide delivering the goods out wide and the conversion pinpoint.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks were called into defensive action right from the kick-off and Damian Mckenzie, back on the field after leaving earlier after an awkward fall, followed a chip and slid over the tryline. It was only after a couple of replays that there was evidence of losing control of the ball to deny the visitors a second try.
However, their mastery of the wet weather conditions was sublime and the pace they delivered on attack kept the Hollywoodbets Sharks defences committed, but under pressure and it was Mckenzie who closed out cleanly this time as the game headed for the half hour mark.
Once again, the touchline conversion was on the mark and the New Zealanders led 14-0.
Masters of controlling the pace and tempo of the game, the All Blacks were nonetheless forced to work hard for every inch, and the first half closed out with the visitors on attack, but under so much pressure that the effort finished off with a wild pass into touch.
A side this good does not dwell on the past and they threw everything into their third try, initially held up over the tryline but an offsides penalty was tapped and after a couple of recycles at close quarters, the ball was sent out wide for another touchline try, and another well-struck conversion for a 21-0 lead five minutes into the second half.
Seven minutes later they went over for their fourth try, the bobbling ball in the red zone eluding everyone but the All Blacks fortuitously and then the conversion from out wide once more bang on target for a 28-0 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
Further tries came in the 60th and 62nd minutes with Ma’a Nonu coming on to face the team he won two Rugby World Cups with, and who enjoyed a 42-0 lead with a little less than a final quarter left to play.
With 10 minutes remaining, a well-crafted multi-phase attack culminated in another try in the corner, with the conversion missing the mark for the first time in the game as the All Blacks’ score approached the 50-point mark.
They hit the half century in the 75th minute as they upped the tempo on attack, the conversion taking them into a 54-0 lead.
There was a flash of light in the closing moments as Jurenzo Julius showcased his attacking prowess, but he was cut down barely a handful of metres from the tryline to close out the match.
