All Blacks Edge Stormers in Late Surge for 38-21 Victory in South Africa
New Zealand's first full-scale tour of South Africa in 30 years commenced with a somewhat flattering 38-21 victory over the Stormers. Despite being favored to win comfortably, the All Blacks showcased a lackluster performance, with the scoreline not reflecting the competitive nature of the match. The makeshift Stormers, still in pre-season mode, managed to rally back twice, tying the score at 14-14 until just 13 minutes remained. However, the situation changed dramatically when the Stormers lost their second scrum-half, leaving them with no reserve backs. This vulnerability was exploited by New Zealand, who scored three tries in the final eight minutes. Key highlights include: New Zealand scored six tries to the Stormers' three. The match took place in front of a crowd of 47,130. Seven All Blacks made their first appearance in the black jersey this year, while two, prop Siale Lauaki and inside back Josh Jacomb, made their debuts off the bench. Despite the win, the All Blacks' performance was marred by ill-discipline, resulting in three yellow cards and a struggling set-piece. Stormers fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed shone brightly in his first-class debut at just 20 years old, while veteran flanker Deon Fourie, nearing 40, delivered a strong performance. New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie acknowledged the challenges faced, stating, "It was a good introduction for us to South African rugby... We just weren't quite clinical enough to expose them." He emphasized the need for improvement in handling aerial attacks and set-piece scenarios.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-08-07