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All Blacks 35 South Africa 20
All Blacks - Smith, Frizel, Jordan, Mo'unga tries; Mo'unga 3 conversions, 3 penalty goals
South Africa - Marx, Kolbe, Smith tries; Kolbe conversion, de Klerk penalty goal
Full-time
What a performance from the All Blacks to claim the Freedom Cup over the world champions. They lay down a marker ahead of a potential Rugby World Cup quarter-final later this year.
The home side burst out of the gates with two tries in the opening 16 minutes to lead 17-0. The Springboks came back into the contest late in the first half as they started to showcase their physicality, slowing down the match after the home side played with flair and speed.
After trailing 20-3 at the break, the Springboks closed the gap to within 10 points through a trademark rolling maul try to replacement hooker Malcolm Marx and then wing Cheslin Kolbe.
But the All Blacks rounded out the performance with two brilliant tries to impressive Richie Mo'unga - who had 20 points - and Will Jordan - who was one of New Zealand's best.
NZ 35 SA 20
80 mins
Kolbe claims the restart and breaks a tackle to burst clear down the right wing. He gets down to New Zealand's 10-metre line but is bundled into touch and that will be full-time.
79th minute - TRY South Africa to Kwagga Smith
The All Blacks try a sneaky chip kick from Beauden Barrett from well inside his own 22 but South Africa gather it. At the breakdown, New Zealand win it back and bring it back to the lefthand side of the field.
At the breakdown, Kwagga Smith steals it and bursts over the line.
South Africa can't convert the try. (NZ 35-20)
78th minute - TRY All Blacks to Richie Mo'unga
After a strong scrum from the All Blacks, Savea comes off the back before passing to Mo'unga. The All Black first five dummies and beats his defender to crash over.
Mo'unga can't convert his own try. (NZ 35-15)
76th minute
After a scrappy lineout, the All Blacks build their attack through the forwards. After a few phases, South Africa gives away another penalty and they'll go for a scrum. Five metres out from South Africa's line.
74th minute
Big scrum New Zealand and they win a penalty. Tamaiti Williams and Laulala are getting pats on the back from all their teammates.
Mo'unga finds touch just short of the South African line.
72nd minute
What strength from Christie who holds up Manie Libbok to win the turnover and the All Blacks will have a scrum just inside their own half.
69th minute - TRY All Blacks to Will Jordan
South Africa's defence is standing firm but New Zealand find space down the right and Retallick is brought down 15-metres out.
It comes back centre-field and finds Beauden Barrett, who puts in a perfect cross-field kick for Will Jordan who gets a nice bounce and after juggling grounds it in the corner.
Mo'unga converts from the touchline. (NZ 30-15)
67th minute
All Blacks building their attack through the forwards but it comes to nothing. They find Beauden Barrett who grubbers into touch but it has come off a South African player, so it'll be a lineout just inside the visitors 22.
65th minute
South Africa brings down the restart before replacement halfback Williams clears high. The All Blacks claim on the visitor's 10-metre line and strat building their attack.
After a long passage of play, Willie le Roux claims a high kick but Savea wins a breakdown penalty.
Lineout New Zealand 20-metres out.
62nd minute - TRY South Africa to Cheslin Kolbe
South Africa is building their attack inside the All Blacks 22 before Scott Barrett puts a huge tackle on but they keep possession.
An All Blacks chant goes up around the ground, but it's quickly silenced as South Africa comes wide to Kolbe scores in the corner.
But as this is happening referee Mathieu Raynal has cramped up in the middle of the field.
Kolbe can't convert the try, it hits the post. (NZ 23-15)
60th minute - Penalty Goal New Zealand to Richie Mo'unga
Mo'unga nails the penalty goal from bang on halfway.
(NZ 23-10)
Christie on for the All Blacks. Williams is also on for his debut.
58th minute
New Zealand show good hands through the backs and it comes to Savea who is hugging the touchline and gets inside the South African half.
The All Blacks bring it back in-field and at the breakdown win a penalty.
57th minute
After a messy lineout, New Zealand build their attack through the forwards inside their own half. After five phases, South Africa gives away a penalty and New Zealand will have a lineout on halfway.
54th minute
South Africa claims the restart before Lukhano Am clear down to New Zealand's 10-metre line.
53rd minute - Try South Africa to Malcolm Marx
South Africa are back in it. From the lineout, South Africa set-up the rolling maul and replacement hooker Malcolm Marx powers over.
Kolbe converts the try. (NZ 20-10)
Taukei'aho and Laulala on for the All Blacks
52nd minute
The All Blacks defend another lineout maul well but give away a breakdown penalty through Retallick.
Another lineout to South Africa.
51st minute
From the scrum, it comes to Mo'unga who puts a high kick up which Kolbe just claims after a juggle.
Both sides trade kicks before the Springboks start to build their attack just inside the All Blacks half.
After four phases, the home side gives away a breakdown penalty. Lineout South Africa 15 metres out.
48th minute
Another big scrum from South Africa, they're starting to edge the contest at scrum time.
The visitor's attack comes to nothing and it'll be a penalty to South Africa.
They go for touch and Faf de Klerk kicks it dead, it never looked like going into touch.
Scrum All Blacks on halfway.
46th minute
All Blacks try to build their attack on halfway, but a poor pass from Taylor sees Sarvea knock it out. Scrum to South Africa.
Another change for South Africa, Duane Vermeulen is on.
44th minute
From the scrum, it comes to Willie le Roux who clears to halfway.
Another change for South Africa with Pieter-Steph du Toit is on.
43rd minute
After a messy lineout, South Africa clear to just outside their 22. Retallick wins the lineout.
Smith delivers a short ball to Jordie Barrett who turns it inside to Jordan who breaks clear deep into the South African 22 but in the tackle knocks it on.
First change for South Africa, Marx and Snyman is on.
Scrum to South Africa five metres from their own line.
41st minute
A high-kick from the ruck from Smith is well-claimed by Telea. The All Blacks quickly come back to Mo'unga who kicks perfectly and bounces it into touch just short of South Africa's line.
SECOND HALF
Second-half is underway with Mo'unga kicking off.
Big change at halftime, Sam Cane is off injured, with Dalton Papali'i coming on. Ardie savea becomes capitain.
Halftime
Slow progress from the South African maul and Mbonambi breaks clear and goes just short.
After six phases, it comes to South Africa's skipper, Etzebeth, who tries to power his way over and it's going to the TMO.
But the TMO has found a kneck-roll earlier in the play and it's a penalty to the All Blacks who kick it into touch for halftime.
What a half of footy from the All Blacks who lead 20-3.
39th minute
After a long passage of play, South Africa are building their attack just short of the All Blacks 22.
The home side are standing firm in defence and it's a big moment before half-time as the siren goes.
The ball comes wide to Mapimpi about 10-metres short of the line but he's brought down in a high tackle.
South Africa will go for a lineout, five metres out.
37th minute - Penalty Goal New Zealand to Richie Mo'unga
The All Blacks win the ball back from the kick-off. At the breakdown, Aaron Smith milks a penalty by throwing the ball into an offside South African player.
Richie Mo'unga will have a shot at goal and nails it. (NZ 20-3)
35th minute - Penalty Goal South Africa to Faf de Klerk
South Africa win a breakdown penalty right in front and about 25 metres out and the visitors will go for goal.
Faf de Klerk nails it. (NZ 17-3)
34th minute
Huge scrum for South Africa and they go wide straightaway and get to the 10-metre line of the All Blacks but the home side win the ball back at the breakdown. It all comes to nothing with a poor kick from Jordan who kicks it out on the full.
Lineout South Africa on New Zealand's 10-metre line.
31st minute
Retallick steals the lineout and Jordie Barrett clears down to South Africa's 22 with a huge kick.
It goes down to Willie le Roux who clears to just short of halfway. At the lineout, All Blacks give away a free-kick for closing the gap at the lineout.
Scrum to South Africa.
30th minute
Following the drop-out, at the first ruck, South Africa get over the ball to win a penalty.
29th minute
After a high kick from Mo'unga, the ball comes free to Jordan after a contest in the air. He kicks deep and South Africa ground it in their own in-goal area for a goal-line drop-out.
26th minute
A huge drop out from Jordie Barrett and Damian de Allende has dropped a simple catch.
Scrum All Blacks 40-metres out from South Africa's line.
26th minute
Both sides are even at scrum time with neither side making progress.
South Africa are building their attack through the forwards just short of the All Blacks line.
Halfback Faf de Klerk goes for the cross-field kick and it's a contest between Beauden Barrett and Kolbe. The referee isn't sure who has ground the ball so it's going to the TMO.
This is very tight, but the TMO has decided after Barrett drops the ball in the contest, Kolbe doesn't ground the ball.
Goal-line drop-out to New Zealand.
23rd minute
The All Blacks maul defence stands up well, as South Africa break clear, Retallick smashes the ball carrier but New Zealand knocks the ball on when it's on the ground.
Scrum South Africa five metres out.
22nd minute
After 12 phases of physical Springboks attack they win a breakdown penalty right in front, but they go for the lineout, which will be seven metres out.
21st minute
South Africa win the ball back at the ruck as their power over the All Blacks forwards at the breakdown.
The visitors make progress towards New Zealand's 22.
19th minute
South Africa win the lineout and have their first opportunity of the contest and are on the All Blacks 22.
After three phases, Frizell who has made a rip-roaring start to the contest, wins a penalty.
18th minute
All Blacks clear down to halfway and South Africa looks to go quickly. It's a shocking throw in and it's another error. But hang on, it's a penalty for South Africa for a high tackle earlier in the play.
All Blacks have had 93 percent possession so far tonight.
16th minute - Try All Blacks Shannon Frizel
All Blacks keeping the ball alive, playing at high speed. A nice chip kick from Barrett falls nicely for himself on the 22.
New Zealand gets quick ball and comes wide to Frizell, who smashes over a South African defender and scores in the corner.
The All Blacks are on fire. Mo'unga converts from out wide. (NZ 17-0)
13th minute
Solid scrum from South Africa and le Roux clears to halfway.
12th minute
What a big scrum from the All Blacks to win their fourth penalty of the contest. Lineout 40 metres out.
From the lineout, Mo'unga puts a huge up-and-under, which comes down metres short of the South Africa try line. In the contest Jordan knocks on.
10th minute
After a high-clearing kick from New Zealand, South Africa make another error.
It's all New Zealand right now.
9th minute - Penalty goal New Zealand to Mo'unga
Mo'unga slots over the penalty goal. What a start by the All Blacks!!
(NZ 10-0)
8th minute
The All Blacks go to work on South Africa's 22 through their forwards but Cane loses the ball behind him.
Luckily for New Zealand, Raynal was playing advantage for offside.
7th minute
From the kick-off, South Africa give away a penalty straight away. Lineout New Zealand on halfway.
From the lineout, the All Blacks win another penalty for South Africa pulling the maul down.
5th minute - Try All Blacks to Aaron Smith
A long passage of play comes to an end, with a brilliant try to Aaron Smith.
Beauden Barrett throw a wide pass to Jordan who is brought down just short of the 22. But quick thinking from Jordan, he releases the ball and gets aup nd and burst clear before passing to Smith to crash over.
Mo'unga converts. (NZ 7-0)
3rd minute
From a quick throw-in, Jordan bursts downfield beating two tackles.
Frizell continues the momentum, beating a tackler and getting to South Africa's 22.
But a poor pass from Scott Barrett goes to ground and South Africa clear.
1st minute
All Blacks receive the kick off and after two phases, Barrett clears to halfway.
South Africa brings it back but a strong tackle from Mo'unga forces an error.
KICKOFF
We're underway at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart. Frenchmen Mathieu Raynal will take charge of tonight's encounter.
The Springboks will get us going, and Willemse kicks off.
7:04pm
Anthems done, time for the haka.
Sam Cane stands at the front, Aaron Smith leads.
It's Kapa O Pango.
6:59pm
Both sides are out on the park and will play for the Freedom Cup.
Time for the anthems, South Africa first, then New Zealand.
6:55pm
It's a full house at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart this evening. The last time these two great rivals faced off was in Johannesburg last year, where the All Blacks snuck it 35-23.
In terms of the overall record, the All Blacks lead it with 61 wins to South Africa's 38 with four draws.
6:45pm
Good evening! We're about 20 minutes away from kickoff in Auckland.
Both sides had an emphatic victory in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
Now it's time to see who stamps their authority on the competition.
*************
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Rugby Championship clash between the All Blacks and South Africa at Auckland's Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
After convincing wins in their opening games against Argentina and Australia respectively, these world rugby heavyweights are braced for perhaps their only really meaningful outing before the Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand are intent on defending their Rugby Championship crown, but this year offers a bigger endgame, with the reigning world champions still the team to beat.
The venue is significant to both sides - South Africa don't have to take on the daunting Eden Park graveyard for visiting teams, while the All Blacks can still preserve that reputation, even if they lose tonight.
Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth has stayed to lead his side, despite the death of father Harry this week, adding another element to this clash. His teammates will want to win this one for him.
The fixture also offers a debut off the bench for New Zealand's heaviest-ever All Black, young prop Tamaiti Williams.
Strap yourselves in for another classic between these fierce rivals. Join us for a 7pm kickoff.
TAB Odds: New Zealand - $1.42, South Africa $2.80, Draw $21
All Blacks: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane (captain), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Tupou Vaa'i, 20-Dalton Papali'i, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-Caleb Clarke
South Africa: 1 -Steven Kitshoff, 2 -Bongi Mbonambi, 3 -Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth (captain), 5-Lood de Jager, 6-Kwagga Smith, 7-Franco Mostert, 8-Jasper Wiese, 9-Faf de Klerk, 10-Damian Willemse, 11-Makazole Mapimpi, 12-Damian de Allende, 13-Lukhano Am, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 15-Willie le Roux
Reserves: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Thomas du Toit, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21-Duane Vermeulen, 22-Grant Williams, 23-Manie Libbok
South Africa done 'huge favour' by avoiding Eden Park for All Blacks clash - 'Boks great Burger
Stephen Foote
The Springboks will enter Saturday's Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks with the requisite self-belief to tip up the hosts at home - a cause Springboks great Schalk Burger believes has been done a "huge favour" by avoiding the cauldron of Eden Park.
Regarded as Aotearoa's spiritual home of rugby, the iconic Auckland venue has proven a miserable hunting ground for touring teams. The All Blacks haven't lost there for almost 30 years, dating back to their defeat to the French in 1994.
With New Zealand poised to raise the curtain on the Women's Football World Cup against Norway on the hallowed turf next Thursday, the mouthwatering fixture against the 'Boks has been shifted to Go One Media Stadium Mt Smart.
The All Blacks have played just one test at the home of the NRL's NZ Warriors, putting 102 points on the board against a scoreless Tonga in July 2021.
Former World Rugby Player of the Year and 2017 World Cup winner Burger says the relocation removes a significant mental hurdle for the visitors, as both teams look to lay down a marker just 57 days out from the start of the World Cup in France.
"I think it actually works in our favour, because we had no chance at Eden Park," Burger told Newshub. "Nobody has, but at Mt Smart, the Springboks will have a chance this weekend."
Rugby's oldest rivals haven't met at Eden Park since 2013, when the All Blacks emerged 29-15 victors to seal the Rugby Championship title.
The visit is the first by a South African side in four years and they'll return with relatively fond memories of their last visit. In 2019, a last-minute try by reserve halfback Herschel Jantjes earned the Boks a 16-16 draw at Wellington, a match that also took place two months out from a World Cup.
The previous year, wing Aphiwe Dyantyi's brace of tries inspired the Springboks to a 36-34 at the capital to record their first win on NZ soil since 2009.
Combined with last year's win at Mbombela, Burger reckons the world champions - fresh off an emphatic win over Australia - will have the self-confidence to tip up the All Blacks yet again.
"We've shown in the past that if anyone can turn the All Blacks over, it's the 'Boks, but it's not going to happen easy this weekend," said Burger, who played 86 tests for South Africa from 2003-15.
"Once you've done it before, you believe you can and it's the mindset. A lot of teams come in and don't believe they're good enough to beat the All Blacks, but this side has that belief.
"They got a draw last time they were out here in 2019 and beat them in Wellington in 2018, so the belief is there.
Schalk Burger in action against the All Blacks in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup. Photo credit: Getty Images
"This group believes it and they know they're good enough to do it."
Both teams enter the contest on the back of one-sided romps in their respective Rugby Championship openers last weekend.
After the second-string Springboks laid waste to Australia at Loftus Versfeld, the All Blacks shut the gate early on the Pumas in Argentina, en route to a 41-12 win.
According to Burger, neither side will read too much into those results, which may have been flattering, due to the disjointed displays from their opponents.
This weekend's 'Boks line-up bears little resemblance to the team that dispatched the Wallabies, with a host of players joining from the advance party that skipped their match at Pretoria to head to Auckland a week early.
The battle of the benches also shapes as a key factor in the match, with the Springboks leaning heavily on their "monster" reserves, with in a 6-2 forwards-to-backs split designed to take advantage of their impact grunt upfront.
The All Blacks have made an uncommon adjustment of their own, eschewing the option of a back-up first-five for Richie Mo'unga - a move Burger suggests may be a mistake, given the form of Damian McKenzie.
"We have a monster bench," said Burger. "If I look at the All Blacks side, it's a tight call between Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei'aho, but then you look at their bench and there's no Damian McKenzie - have they missed a trick?
"Time will tell."
