All Blacks score 50 in victory over Bulls
The All Blacks ran in eight tries in a commanding 50-19 victory over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, keeping their unbeaten tour record intact.
Loose forward Anton Segner had his best match for the All Blacks topping the tackle count with 13, made 12 carries and secured key turnovers to ensure a consistent supply of quality ball for the backs.
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Centre Rieko Ioane, wing Leroy Carter and second five-eighths Anton Lienert-Brown thrived in the free-flowing contest.
On the other wing Josh Moorby crossed for an early double as the visitors forced the Bulls to make 159 tackles to 127 by the All Blacks, while the Bulls also missed 42 tackles to lead 24-0 at the turn.
Ioane had 15 carries and Carter was all over the park with two tries, 16 carries and five line breaks. Captain Codie Taylor also finished with two tries.
The All Blacks ran the restart back at the Bulls with Ioane making 40m down the sideline, but the ball was lost inside and toed ahead by flanker Hanro Liebenberg, who looked to have scored.. However, a TMO check revealed Bulls fullback Willie le Roux knocked the ball on.
Then, a Bulls midfield kick was taken by Barrett, who was unchallenged and ran forward to lob a high kick to Carter, who took the ball on the full and linked with Ioane. The ball was moved wide to No8 Peter Lakai on the left flank. He passed inside for Moorby to score his second try.
The Bulls’ mistake rate and inability to make the most of chances resulted in Taylor scoring a second try when the All Blacks were under advantage, after the half-time hooter had blown. Lock Fabian Holland provided a ruck turnover, which the All Blacks quickly utilised.
When the ball was worked towards the line, it was Holland, standing off a ruck, who back-handed a pass that allowed Taylor to charge over for the try.
The Bulls stunned the All Blacks in the first minute of the second half when they used a penalty lineout for lock Ruan Vermaak to get a full head of steam on and charge to the line. Referee Nika Amashukeli awarded a try, then overruled the TMO, who said there was no evidence the ball was grounded on the line.
The All Black response was instant as they secured the ball off a turnover and moved it across the field for Carter to somehow avoid contact with the sideline to score.
A Lakai turnover in the 48th minute saw impressive co-ordination between forwards and backs, resulting in Carter providing a return pass infield for Ioane to score.
The Bulls scored their second in the 53rd minute when No8 Jeandre Rudolph set sail at speed down the blindside from a scrum. Linking with first five-eighths Curwin Bosch, they got the ball in the hands of wing Stravino Jacobs, who crashed through Barrett’s tackle attempt to score.
The All Blacks posted 40 in the 66th minute when the ball was released from a lineout maul. Ioane picked up a low pass from replacement halfback Kyle Preston, and while Barrett and first five-eighths Josh Jacomb were both pulled down short of the line, it was Carter who was on hand to take the support pass and score his second.
Bulls replacement fullback Hakeem Kunene had an immediate impact calling for a scrum in front of the All Blacks posts. He received the ball from replacement halfback Paul de Wet at speed, and his pace took him just short before captain and flanker Marcell Coetzee scored.
The All Blacks responded by using a penalty to kick to the corner, secure the lineout and launch replacement second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai at the line. He set up clean ball, and the ball landed in replacement No8 Wallace Sititi’s hands for him to score beneath the crossbar
All Blacks 50 (Josh Moorby 2, Codie Taylor 2, Leroy Carter 2, Rieko Ioane, Wallace Sititi tries; Beauden Barrett con; Josh Jacomb 4 con) Bulls 19 (Ruan Vermaak, Stravino Jacobs, Marcel Coetzee tries; Curwin Bosch 2 con HT: 0-24
