All Blacks take major advantage in South Africa series after first-test success

New Zealand's All Blacks seized a commanding 33-16 victory over South Africa in the first test of their highly anticipated series, handing them a significant advantage. The match, played at Ellis Park, saw the All Blacks outscore the Springboks five tries to one.

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Oh, look, it's massive. We've got a leg up, although, obviously, it doesn't guarantee anything, and we know they are such a good side.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie described the win as a "statement win" that gives his team a crucial "leg up" in the series, dubbed 'Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.' Despite being considered underdogs by many pundits, the All Blacks delivered a performance that saw them emerge as the slicker of the two teams.

Rennie highlighted a pivotal moment in the 55th minute when South Africa, despite having three successive scrums near the All Blacks' try line, failed to score. New Zealand then capitalized, with Fabian Holland charging down a clearance to score a try, regaining the lead and setting the tone for the remainder of the match.

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It's not about me. You know, I'm really pleased for the players. We've got a fantastic group of staff who work really hard, and it's a special night.

"It's tough to win at Ellis Park against a high quality side, but we're still in our infancy," Rennie stated. "We've got a fantastic group of staff who work really hard, and it's a special night." He acknowledged the team is still developing its playing style but is pleased with the progress, including four successive wins across recent competitions.

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That was a bit of a soft one and then we were under the pump for a number of minutes, so to come out of that and then get a little bit of territory was massive.

The two teams are set to meet for the second test in Cape Town next Saturday. Rennie cautioned that while the scoreline might appear convincing, the game was a "massive effort" and an "absolute arm wrestle," and he anticipates a strong response from the Springboks.

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I know the score might look convincing, but it was an absolute arm wrestle. We were under the pump but the boys showed up. We defended and defended and then we were clinical when we got our opportunities. A massive effort, a great result for us, but we're wary of the response that we'll get next week.