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

The lineout is a bit of a rush job, but Eben Etzebeth claims safely with no lift and South Africa can clear their lines. Willemse does so, but only up to just beyond the 22.

New Zealand start where they left off, Mark Telea getting up above the South African catcher to win back aerial possession, Damian Willemse tumbling away to continue his difficult outing so far. Richie Mo’unga then slides a diagonal kick beyond the South Africa defence - out it goes about ten metres from the South Africa line.

Beauden Barrett gets us back underway.

The use of that bench will be intriguing. Might we see Manie Libbok earlier than expected with Damian Willemse not quite able to yet impress himself on the game.

“We need to be clinical,” South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says at half-time. “We are making a lot of unforced errors and that brings the All Blacks into the game. We need to calm down a bit and make sure we keep ball in hand.”

A half-time change from New Zealand - and a significant one. Sam Cane has hurt himself and has a jacket on, with Dalton Papali’i introduced on the openside. Ardie Savea takes over as skipper.

What has been clear is how New Zealand have picked on the strengths that typically form the bedrock of South Africa’s game - the Springboks backfield has been all over the place in the air, and their set-piece has wobbled. The All Blacks kick variation has tested South Africa’s wide defence, a tactic that also brought joy when these two met in the pool stages at the 2019 World Cup.

South Africa may feel that Cheslin Kolbe’s no try could have been given - it did look like the wing’s hand pressed against the top of the ball after it had spilled out of Beauden Barrett’s grasp on the All Blacks’ line. They’ll need plenty of impact from that power-packed bench to get back in this.

A brilliant half from the All Blacks, better in just about every facet than their visitors, who have struggled for control on a greasy night in Auckland. New Zealand, by contrast, have been accurate, intense and frighteningly physical in defence to take a sizeable half-time advantage into the sheds.

Will Jordan has injected all sorts of threat off his wing, Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga have asked varied questions in playmaking partnership and Brodie Retallick and co. have provided the power up front. It’s been very, very good so far from the home side.

Held up! Mathieu Raynal wants to check with the TMO but it looks like Eben Etzebeth was unable to force to floor as three All Blacks wrapped themselves around the colossus.

In fact, there’s no need to check - a neck roll from Lood de Jager earlier in the movement and that’ll be that for the first 40.

The All Blacks hold firm against the maul. Option B for South Africa, their forwards doing some punching in tight.

South Africa try to find something before half-time. Willie le Roux is busy, controlling from first receiver with Damian Willemse a little wider. A better sustained effort from the Springboks as the hooter sounds, Willemse jinking and jiving past a couple.

Makazole Mapimpi pops up on the right, alongside his opposite wing Cheslin Kolbe. Mark Telea covers across but slips up over the shoulder - penalty to South Africa. Prodded into the corner. A score here might be a must if South Africa are to have hope of fighting back.