All Blacks rally late to beat Stormers in Cape Town opener

The All Blacks scored four tries in the final 13 minutes to overcome a determined Stormers side 38-21 in Cape Town and win their opening match of the New Zealand Greatest Rivalry Tour.

The hosts held New Zealand to 14-14 for 67 minutes and briefly looked capable of producing a major upset. But the Stormers ran out of energy late on, conceding four tries, including three in the final eight minutes.

Replacement hooker Asafo Aumua crossed for the All Blacks’ sixth try after the final hooter had sounded.

The victory was New Zealand’s first tour win in South Africa for 30 years.

Despite ticket prices dominating the build-up, 47,000 spectators attended on an outstanding evening in Cape Town. Ideal weather conditions added to the occasion, while John Dobson’s Stormers produced a performance full of commitment after reshaping almost their entire pre-season to prepare a match-day squad for the All Blacks.

The timing of the fixture was always likely to be a problem for the Stormers, who are still in pre-season for the United Rugby Championship. Bookmakers had predicted a 35-point All Blacks victory, and New Zealand’s early performance appeared to support that forecast.

Playing at pace and making effective use of width and the wide channels, the visitors controlled the opening five minutes. Their first try of the tour came from a lineout maul, giving them a 7-0 lead.

However, the expected one-sided contest failed to develop. Over the next 33 minutes, the Stormers disrupted New Zealand’s momentum and began to dominate at the set piece.

Their scrum won several penalties, while their lineout drive and maul also created problems. Stormers hooker Andre-Hugo Venter appeared to have scored from a lineout maul, but the try was ruled out because of a technical infringement.

New Zealand flank Simon Parker was sin-binned for a professional foul during the same passage of play. From the resulting penalty, veteran flanker Deon Fourie powered over from another lineout maul, with Yaqeen Ahmed converting to make it 7-7.

The score remained level until a Stormers lineout went astray late in the first half. The All Blacks immediately punished the error, with Parker finishing an excellent try. Beauden Barrett converted from the touchline in the 39th minute to put New Zealand 14-7 ahead at half-time.

The Stormers responded strongly after the interval. Their scrum became more effective and their lineout maul posed an even greater threat. Right wing Seabelo Senatla then scored the home side’s most celebrated try of the night, and Ahmed’s conversion levelled the match once again at 14-14.

New Zealand finally regained control in the 68th minute when left wing Rieko Ioane scored from close range. Right wing Leroy Carter added another decisive score in the 72nd minute, creating the first real gap between the teams.

The Stormers’ experienced players were prominent. Fourie, aged 39, was influential throughout and may have become the oldest player to score a try against the All Blacks. Scrum-half Dewald Duvenhage, 37, also performed impressively 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.

New Zealand were typically dangerous during transitions and counter-attacks, with outstanding handling skills helping them turn pressure into points. But they were vulnerable at the Stormers’ lineout maul, were second best for much of the match in the scrums and appeared uncomfortable whenever the ball was kicked high into the Cape Town night.

The All Blacks also had three players yellow-carded, yet their late surge secured a convincing scoreline in a match that had been far more competitive than the final margin suggested.