New Zealand began their four-Test tour with a 33-16 victory over South Africa in the first Test at Ellis Park, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
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Key facts
- New Zealand beat South Africa 33-16 in the first Test.
- The match was played at Ellis Park with a 7.10pm kick-off.
- The game marked the start of the All Blacks' four-Test tour.
- The All Blacks were led out by Ardie Savea.
- All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga had called for a faster game before kick-off.
New Zealand opened their four-Test tour with a 33-16 win over South Africa in the first Test at Ellis Park, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of the match.
The fixture kicked off at 7.10pm and marked the beginning of the All Blacks’ tour, with the visitors led out onto the field by Ardie Savea.
The build-up to the match featured what the Guardian described as a minor war of words over the pace of the game. All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga said ahead of kick-off that the team wanted to speed the game up.
“We want to speed the game up. It’s very frustrating for us when teams are visibly trying to slow it down,” Umaga said, as reported by the Guardian.
Umaga also raised a broader point about the direction of the sport, adding that rugby needs to decide “what kind of game we want to play, in terms of globally.”
The 33-16 result gave New Zealand an early advantage as the four-Test series got under way at one of South African rugby’s most storied venues.
Why it matters
Matches between South Africa and New Zealand are among the most significant fixtures in international rugby, and the result sets the tone for the rest of the All Blacks' four-Test tour. The pre-match debate over the pace of play also reflects wider discussions about the future direction of the game globally.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score?
New Zealand beat South Africa 33-16 in the first Test, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
Where was the match played?
The Test was played at Ellis Park, with a 7.10pm kick-off.
Why was there a war of words before the match?
All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga said the team wanted to speed the game up, calling it frustrating when teams visibly try to slow it down, and said rugby needs to decide what kind of game to play globally.
Timeline
- South Africa 16-33 New Zealand: rugby union first Test – live reaction
The Guardian Sport: All Blacks begin four-test tour at Ellis Park Sign up for The Breakdown | Mail Daniel Here come the All Blacks! Led by Ardie Savea. Continue reading…
- South Africa v New Zealand: rugby union first Test – live
The Guardian Sport: The All Blacks begin their four-test tour at Ellis Park. 7.10pm KO Sign up for The Breakdown | Mail Daniel There’s been a minor war of words over the pace of the game. All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga fired the first shot: “We want to speed the game up. It’s very frustrating