Springboks bring their best too late as All Blacks extend Eden Park record

A loose ball at the back from the Boks gifted the All Blacks an early chance, allowing them to hack the ball ahead and set up an early attacking platform.

From the ensuing line-out, flyhalf Beauden Barrett spotted some space on the outside and picked out winger Emoni Narawa with a perfect crossfield kick before the winger beat the last defender and dotted down, as the home side made the perfect start to the match. Jordie Barrett added the extras from a difficult angle just as the rain began to pour down.

Both teams were struggling with their handling in the wet, and the Boks didn't help their cause by attempting some trickery with a makeshift line-out in open play, only for the All Blacks to pounce and win a turnover.

Then came a moment of controversy when the All Blacks knocked the ball on and the Boks hacked it ahead. The referee seemed to give the visitors no advantage, allowing Barrett to put the ball to boot and win back possession with a 50-22. From the ensuing line-out, it was a simple inside ball to Will Jordan that sent the fullback crashing over for their second try.

When the Springboks finally won a penalty in the All Blacks' territory, they decided to take the three points on offer despite their 14-point deficit on the scoreboard. Moments later, they were awarded another shot at goal - a tough kick in the conditions - and Pollard couldn't convert, as they worryingly emerged with just three points from their two best attacking opportunities of the match.

With a few minutes to play in the half, the Boks finally set up an attacking line-out, but with the pressure on, Grant Williams couldn't hold on to the pass from Pieter-Steph du Toit as another chance went begging.

The Boks won another line-out from a superb Pollard 50-22 just before half-time, but Malcolm Marx couldn't hear the call and the All Blacks were awarded a free kick for a delay of game, as a disappointing first 40 minutes for the men in green and gold came to an end.

The second half started with a golden opportunity for the Boks to score after the All Blacks butchered a line-out on their own try line, but again the Boks couldn't stay patient and make it count, as they tried to go over in heavy traffic and got held up.

With so many chances wasted, it was only a matter of time before the All Blacks made the Boks pay. A barnstorming run from Test centurion Ardie Savea set up the field possession, before an infringement at the breakdown allowed Barrett to take their lead back to 14 points.

The unforced errors didn't stop there for the Boks unfortunately, as two more attacking chances were squandered, the first through obstruction running and the second through a forward pass.

Finally, it was an attacking scrum and a sniping run from substitute Kwagga Smith that allowed Malcolm Marx to reach over and dot down for the South Africans' opening try.

But in a moment that summed up their effort on the night, the Boks infringed straight from the kickoff as Lood de Jager obstructed the chasing runners. To make matters worse, Smith was yellow-carded for a cynical infringement shortly after, going from hero to villain in mere moments. That allowed the All Blacks to kick for the corner and go on the attack, with Quinn Tupaea eventually crashing over following a powerful burst through the midfield.

With eight minutes to go, the Boks forced the All Blacks into carrying over and giving away a five-metre scrum, and after taking it up to the line via the forwards, Cobus Reinach spotted a gap and dove over for the try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to bring the Boks back to within a converted try with just over five minutes to play.

As the clock wound down, it was finally the All Blacks' chance to make a few nervy unforced errors, allowing the Boks to kick for the corner and launch another attack. But it was Savea who came up clutch for the hosts in his 100th Test match, winning a crucial turnover on his own try line.

The Boks did have one final crack as the hooter sounded, but the All Blacks came piling in at a ruck to win the turnover and seal the victory as the Springboks' luckless run at Eden Park continued.

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