New Zealand vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as All Blacks beat Springboks

New Zealand 35-20 South Africa: The All Blacks produce a first-half blitz to all but secure the Rugby Championship trophy

(Getty Images)

New Zealand rode another blistering start to a 35-20 victory over South Africa at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, making a big statement in a World Cup year and placing one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy.

Playing a high-octane brand of attacking rugby married with immense physicality, the All Blacks scored early tries through Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell before late scores from Will Jordan and Richie Mo’unga put a seal on the victory.

The world champions, starved of the ball and heavily penalised, looked shellshocked by the early onslaught but recovered to score second-half tries through Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe and Kwagga Smith.

The victory made it two wins out of two in the truncated championship for the All Blacks after last week’s 41-12 win over Argentina that was also built on an early try blitz.

Relive all the action from the Rugby Championship below:

New Zealand vs South Africa - Rugby Championship latest updates

• New Zealand beat South Africa in the Rugby Championship to all but secure the trophy
• FULL-TIME! New Zealand 35-20 South Africa
• TRY! NEW ZEALAND 30-15 South Africa (Will Jordan try, 69 minutes)
• TRY! New Zealand 23-15 SOUTH AFRICA (Cheslin Kolbe try, 62 minutes)
• TRY! New Zealand 20-10 SOUTH AFRICA (Malcolm Marx try, 54 minutes)
• TRY! NEW ZEALAND 17-0 South Africa (Shannon Frizell try, 16 minutes)
• TRY! NEW ZEALAND 7-0 South Africa (Aaron Smith try, 5 minutes)

[15 July 2023 08:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 10-0 South Africa, 11 minutes

A little bit scratchy from South Africa since the concession of that try. A high ball should be claimed easily enough by a leaping Damian Willemse with Will Jordan electing not to get off the ground, but the South Africa fly-half misjudges the flight and fumbles it forward.

[15 July 2023 08:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! NEW ZEALAND 10-0 South Africa (Richie Mo’unga penalty, 10 minutes)

Straight and true from Mo’unga.

[15 July 2023 08:15 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-0 South Africa, 9 minutes

And a third penalty of the last two minutes against the visitors - they only conceded three in total against Australia last week.

Sam Cane points at the posts as Richie Mo’unga gestures for a tee...

[15 July 2023 08:15 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-0 South Africa, 7 minutes

Back-to-back penalties against South Africa from the restart, trying a little too hard to get into the game. New Zealand back down on the fringes of the Springboks’ 22.

[15 July 2023 08:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! NEW ZEALAND 7-0 South Africa (Aaron Smith try, 5 minutes)

What a start!

An extraordinary score to close an extraordinary passage of play. After almost four minutes without pause, the All Blacks find a fissure, Will Jordan shrewdly releasing and getting back to his feet after initially being tackled on the right. His inward dart is prompt and piercing, penetrating past flagging South African forwards. A jab off the right boot takes Jordan into room and Aaron Smith is there in support to slide under the posts.

Over goes the conversion - if that’s a sign of things to come we are in for an absolute cracker.

(Getty Images)

[15 July 2023 08:11 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa, 4 minutes

Snappy handling on the left sees Sam Cane and Telea combine. Penlaty advantage coming for the All Blacks as they look to move up through South African territory.

[15 July 2023 08:10 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa, 3 minutes

This is a breathless start. South Africa pounce on a loose ball and kick long, Mark Telea scurrying back to provide support for Beauden Barrett and then trying to launch a counter. He is ended by Eben Etzebeth just as he begins to accelerate.

The All Blacks reclaim a high ball and look to attack again.

[15 July 2023 08:09 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa, 2 minutes

Solid and stable from both sides at the first set-piece skirmish. Jordie Barrett shows his skill with a clever kick off his left boot, but Willie le Roux covers well.

But here come the All Blacks! Will Jordan weaves between the chasers to make 30 metres, before Shannon Frizell steps out of a tackle and strides up to the edge of South Africa’s 22.

[15 July 2023 08:08 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa, 1 minute

New Zealand clear long, but Jasper Wiese comes thumping back in familiarly frightening form. But the All Blacks chasing line is firm - Wiese fumbles on the floor in the first sign of the problems that a greasy surface might cause. New Zealand scrum feed.

[15 July 2023 08:07 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

KICK OFF!

South Africa will get things underway. Damian Willemse drops boot to ball and here we go!