All Blacks hammer Boks

South Africa 16 New Zealand 52

New Zealand’s All Blacks ruthlessly exposed South Africa’s shortcomings with a seven-try demolition job in the Tri-Nations at Pretoria.

Just a week after their upset victory over world champions Australia, the brave but out-gunned Springboks were out-played in almost every department.

Their response to a ferocious All Black onslaught was a solitary late try scored by winger Ashwin Willemse when the visitors were reduced to 14 men.

Yet the match began promisingly for the embattled Boks who dominated territorially for much of the first half but rarely penetrated a swarming All Black defence.

They were restricted to just nine points – two penalties and a field goal - from fly half Louis Koen’s boot.

The brutally efficient Kiwis struck with clinical precision whenever they penetrated deep into enemy territory to score three tries.

Fly-half Carlos Spencer dummied his way over for the first after 12 minutes and winger Doug Howlett swept through a gap for the second in the 25th minute.

Just two minutes later the opposite winger Joe Rokocoko intercepted a wild back pass in broken play from Bok full-back Brent Russell to charge over for the third.

Spencer was having an off-day with the boot before the break. He landed two conversions and a penalty, but missed three other attempts.

The match was virtually over as a contest at half-time with the New Zealanders 22-9 up.

And just two minutes after the re-start Spencer launched the second-half blitz with a penalty, then added another seven minutes later.

Soon afterwards Rokocoko stormed over for his second try and five minutes later replacement forward Kees Meews barged over for a touchdown.

He had no time to celebrate because he was sin-binned for allegedly elbowing an opponent.

Howlett notched his second try in the 76th minute and two minutes from the end centre Aaron Mauger touched down to complete the rout.

Spencer contributed 17 points with three penalties and four conversions.