RECORD PAK

THE Springboks are the best rugby team in the world and they proved that by klapping the All Blacks 43-10 in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test match in Wellington, New Zealand.

Captain Siya Kolisi’s manne absolutely humiliated the Kiwis by handing them their heaviest defeat (by 33 points) ever, surpassing the record win South Africa handed their old rivals in the 35-7 win at Twickenham in 2023.

With the win, the Boks will reclaim number one spot on the World Rugby rankings today, while also retaining the Freedom Cup and reviving the defence of their Rugby Championship crown.

Ahead of the match, many were doubting the Boks after coach Rassies Erasmus rung the changes by dropping ysters Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende, Handre Pollard, Jesse Kriel and Willie le Roux.

But the world champion Boks proved they are more than the sum of some of their parts, as Canan Moodie, Cheslin Kolbe, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok and RG Snyman all stepped up to deliver New Zealand rugby their darkest day at the Wellington Regional Stadium.

RG Snyman’s early five-pointer was cancelled for a handling error.

It allowed New Zealand to strike first as debutant Leroy Carter scored the opening try.

However, Kolbe broke the Kiwis’ spirit with an intercept try and then scored another in the second half as SA took a 17-10 lead.

From there on, it was one-way traffic as a third SA try to Willemse opened the floodgates.  

Kwagga Smith’s bonus-point try after a cross kick gathered by Pieter-Steph du Toit and offloaded to his fellow loosie, then broke the All Blacks’ spirit as Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen ran in two more five-pointers.