All Blacks slaughter helpless Springboks | Thebigtip

Payback time for All Blacks - by Greg Ford at smh.com.au

If you are looking for a blueprint on how to beat the Springboks in next year's World Cup, the All Blacks presented one to the rugby world tonight during their emphatic win over the world champion South Africans.

Richie McCaw's All Blacks posted an emphatic four try bonus point 32-12 win at Eden Park to take an early upper hand in the Tri Nations. But more importantly - smarting from last year's whitewash to South Africa - they managed to cook up a game-winning-plan, which is sure to be repeated in Wellington on Saturday.

One play in particular is set to become the most studied of the year.

It came after just 18 minutes of play, off a South African set piece.

Morne Steyn booted the ball deep into All Black territory and what unfolded in the next six or seven seconds won the All Blacks the match. Mils Muliaina broke several tackles in his return before he off loaded to Richie McCaw who in turn found an unmarked Conrad Smith.

In one decisive sweeping counter attack the weapon South Africa used to such great effect against New Zealand last year was nullified.

As a rejoiner, it wasn't half bad. And what was to unfold in the next 60 minutes could be traced back to that moment; the moment when the All Blacks came up with a game plan to beat the Boks.

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