The first time the All Blacks and Springboks faced each other since the World Cup final
World Cup heroes Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel of South Africa made history on Saturday when they defeated a couple of All Blacks once more.
A few of those players were facing off against each other in Japan Rugby League One, a mere few weeks after the Springboks defeated the All Blacks 12–11 at the Stade de France to win their fourth Webb Ellis Cup.
On Saturday, the All Blacks centurions Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett faced off against a Toyota Verblitz team led by double World Cup winners de Klerk and Kriel’s Yokohama Canon Eagles team. The Springboks prevailed 24-22 in a close match.
The scrum-half battle between Smith and de Klerk, who initially lined up opposite each other in Paris, was clearly repeated in this match. After the Springboks had inexplicably decided not to name a scrum-half on their bench in a 7-1 split, De Klerk famously played every minute of the match against the All Blacks. This time in Japan, Smith did manage a late try, but the score was once more in the wrong column.
After the game, the two were captured on camera chit-chatting. Considering how often they have faced off in black and green, they have undoubtedly bonded over the years.
At the World Cup, Smith ended his All Blacks career by walking off the field with fifteen minutes remaining in the match. The 35-year-old thought about the “brutal” nature of Test rugby after the game.
He remarked, “We didn’t die wondering.” “I believe we gave it everything we had, but the South African champions held strong during the crucial moments, made turnovers, and nailed the small ones.” That’s how rugby works. That is rugby in a Test match, and it can be brutal at times. Being a part of the game was incredible, and I was pleased with our performance this evening.
