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South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeat / Photo: © AFP
South Africa send New Zealand crashing to record defeat
Reigning champions South Africa completed their World Cup preparations with a record 35-7 rout of 14-man New Zealand as the All Blacks suffered their all-time heaviest margin of defeat on Friday.
The Springboks scored five tries, through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith -- all converted by fly-half Manie Libbok.
The defeat topped the 21-point loss the All Blacks suffered when going down 47-26 to Australia in 2019.
This result also saw South Africa top their previous winning margin against arch-rivals New Zealand achieved in a 17-0 success at Durban back in 1928.
New Zealand's fate was all but sealed when they had to play just over half the match a man down after Scott Barrett was sent off shortly before the break for a second yellow card, with the lock flying into a ruck and clattering Marx in the head.
Depending on pool results, the rugby union superpowers could meet again in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
New Zealand launch the World Cup against hosts and fellow heavyweights France on September 8, with South Africa launching the defence of their title against Scotland in Marseille on September 10.
H.Davis--SFF
