Marx on parade to make it four in a row

NEW Zealand picked a bench to ensure they finished the match strongly, but once again they squandered a lead as South Africa all but clinched the Rugby Championship with a fourth successive victory over the All Blacks for the first time in 75 years.

- PAUL REES

It was another fiercely fought contest between the two rivals, but New Zealand, and it is strange to say this about them after what they have achieved over the years, lacked a steady hand on the tiller. They were rushed into decisions and when they needed a calm authority as the heat of the game intensified, no one stood up.

For the fourth match in four this tournament New Zealand opened the scoring but conceded last. Head coach Scott Robertson’s ploy of putting the experienced half-backs TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett on the bench to bring knowhow in the pivotal moments made no difference: their three defeats in the last month have all followed interval leads.

Robertson did not use all his bench, a contrast to his opposite number Rassie Erasmus who brought on his five forward replacements before an hour was up. They made a difference as South Africa, who in the first half were wayward in the lineout, pushed around in the scrum after an assertive start and outnumbered at the breakdown, got on top after the introduction of hooker Malcom Marx on 45 minutes.

Their lineout and scrum improved immediately Marx came on and within five minutes they were ahead having trailed 9-3 at the interval to three Damien McKenzie penalties with Handre Pollard landing one. The Springboks had had more of the game but were too often isolated in possession by Ardie Savea and Sam Cane and forced to hold on.