All Blacks struggle to beat Stormers, tour opener
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
The All Blacks were given a stern test for 65 minutes but they powered away with four late tries to beat the Stormers by 21-38 in Cape Town.
The New Zealand side led 7-14 at halftime but they struggled to break away from the hosts in a scrappy third quarter.
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Instead it was the Stormers who struck first in the second half from a well-worked lineout shift into the midfield, where veteran hooker Deon Fourie dished a slick short pass to Seabelo Senatla who exploded through the gap on a 25m run to score under the posts.
The All Blacks had three yellow cards - two in the first half - Anton Lienert-Brown and Simon Parker and Josh Moorby in the second spell.
The visitors scored first in the sixth minute through Samisoni Taukei'aho followed by Parker just before halftime.
At 14-14 with around 15 minutes remaining in the second spell there were three quick tries to Rieko Ioane who moved from wing to centre to replace an injured Billy Proctor,
Leroy Carter scored in the 72nd minute followed by Moorby and final Asafo Aumua.
Beauden Barrett started at first five and was creative before Josh Jacomb came on and ran the ball at the opposition at every opportunity.
The All Blacks face the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday morning
All Blacks 38 (Samisoni Taukei'aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Asafo Aumua tries; Beauden Barrett 3 con, Josh Jacomb con) Stormers 21 (Deon Fourie Seabelo Senatla, penalty try’; Yaqeen Ahmed 2 con). HT: 14-7