Springboks win 26-10 to pile pressure on All Blacks

MBOMBELA, South Africa (AP) — South Africa ground down an out-of-form New Zealand to win 26-10 in the Rugby Championship opener on Saturday and pile the pressure on the All Blacks with their fifth loss in six games.

The Springboks scored two tries at Mbombela Stadium, one at the start by wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and one right at the end by replacement Willie le Roux as the All Blacks launched a desperate late attack deep in their own 22 in an attempt to salvage some pride.

The Springboks were in control throughout and had a big territorial advantage to work with, although they finished with 14 men after Arendse was issued a red card in the 75th minute — while he was lying flat out receiving medical attention — for a highly dangerous charge in the air on Beauden Barrett.

The Boks led 19-3 with a couple of minutes to go and were grinding their way to a big victory over an All Blacks team that had been subdued by the Springboks' scrummaging, merciless defense and persistent tactical kicking that kept the visitors pinned in their own half for the majority of the game.

The All Blacks finally broke clear of the home defense in the dying minutes with a bust by wing Caleb Clarke. He was dragged down just short by Damian Willemse but replacement forward Shannon Frizell was on hand to score the All Blacks' only try with two minutes to go to make it 19-10.

The consolation barely lasted a minute as Frizell dropped a pass from captain Sam Cane as the All Blacks tried to attack from in front of their tryline, allowing le Roux to kick ahead, flop on the ball over the line and seal the win. Springboks flyhalf Handré Pollard kicked 16 points.

The All Blacks must play a second test against South Africa next week at Ellis Park in Johannesburg — the Boks' favorite ground — and coach Ian Foster's job is hanging by a thread, as is the future of flanker Cane as the leader of the team.

Rugby's most successful team was already in the midst of its worst run in 24 years after last month's historic home series loss to Ireland and is dangerously close to its worst set of results ever.

Another loss against the world champion and New Zealand's biggest rival next Saturday would see Foster fired, New Zealand media has reported, throwing the All Blacks into some turmoil just over a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France.

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