The All Blacks scored four tries in the final 13 minutes to pull away from the Stormers and win 38-21 in Cape Town, securing their first tour victory in South Africa for 30 years.
The hosts had matched New Zealand for 67 minutes, with the scores level at 14-14, before the All Blacks’ superior finishing power decided the opening match of the New Zealand’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
Three of New Zealand’s four late tries came in the final eight minutes. Replacement hooker Asafo Aumua crossed for the sixth All Blacks try after the final hooter to complete a scoreline which did not reflect the Stormers’ competitiveness for much of the evening.
A crowd of 47,000 attended the match, despite ticket pricing dominating the build-up. They were rewarded with ideal conditions on a fine Cape Town evening, while the Stormers responded to the occasion with considerable energy and commitment.
John Dobson’s side had adjusted almost their entire pre-season programme to prepare a match-day squad capable of taking on the All Blacks. However, their lack of match fitness ultimately proved decisive, with the Stormers still in pre-season ahead of the United Rugby Championship.
The bookmakers had predicted a 35-point victory for New Zealand, and the visitors initially appeared capable of delivering it. Playing at high tempo and making effective use of width and the wide channels, the All Blacks controlled the opening five minutes and moved into a 7-0 lead.
Their first try of the tour came from a lineout maul. But New Zealand’s early dominance quickly faded as the Stormers’ scrum and lineout began to exert pressure.
Stormers hooker Andre-Hugo Venter appeared to score from another lineout maul, but the try was disallowed because of a technical infringement. New Zealand flanker Simon Parker was sin-binned for a professional foul during the same passage of play.
The Stormers took advantage of the resulting penalty, with veteran flanker Deon Fourie forcing his way over from a lineout maul. Yaqeen Ahmed converted on his debut to bring the scores level at 7-7.
The deadlock remained until a Stormers lineout went wrong late in the first half. The All Blacks immediately punished the mistake, with Parker finishing a superb attacking move. Beauden Barrett added the conversion from the touchline in the 39th minute, giving New Zealand a 14-7 half-time lead.
The Stormers continued to resist after the interval. Their scrum grew stronger and their lineout maul became increasingly effective, while right wing Seabelo Senatla scored the home side’s most celebrated try of the night. Ahmed’s conversion made it 14-14 and raised hopes of a major upset.
New Zealand finally regained the lead in the 68th minute, when left wing Rieko Ioane scored from close range. Right wing Leroy Carter then crossed in the 72nd minute, creating the first meaningful gap between the sides before the All Blacks added further tries in the closing stages.
The Stormers were led by two experienced players. Fourie, aged 39, was highly influential and appears to have become the oldest player to score a try against the All Blacks. Scrum-half Dewald Duvenhage, 37, performed strongly in what was his final match for the Stormers.
Duvenhage played most of the game after starting number nine Imaad Khan suffered an injury in the third minute.
The All Blacks were especially dangerous when turning defence into attack and displayed outstanding handling skills. Yet they were vulnerable in several areas: they struggled to contain the Stormers’ lineout maul, were second best for much of the match at scrum time and appeared uncomfortable whenever the ball was kicked high into the Cape Town night.
New Zealand also had three players shown yellow cards, but still found a way to finish decisively and begin the tour with a hard-earned victory.
