New Zealand's 54-0 victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Tuesday night delivered eight tries and a clean sheet, yet the margin flattered to deceive. The All Blacks required the full 80 minutes to shake off a Sharks side closer to a C team than the outfit that once troubled Super Rugby's elite, and the conditions — a waterlogged Kings Park surface that recalled the near-cancellation of the 1995 World Cup semi-final — ensured the contest bore little resemblance to what awaits at Ellis Park.
For 40 minutes the Sharks held the majority of possession and the better of the territory, yet came away with nothing. New Zealand, by contrast, scored twice despite seeing less of the ball. The gap between the halves told the story: after the interval the tourists dominated possession and ran in four tries between the 45th and 62nd minutes as the home side's lungs gave out. Skipper for the night Luke Jacobson and man of the match Jordie Barrett both acknowledged the performance left room for improvement, with coach Dave Rennie pinpointing the slow start as an area of concern.
"A slow start could be fatal against the Springboks at Ellis Park on 22 August," Rennie said afterwards, a sentiment that framed the evening's context. The Sharks, missing their Springboks and still in pre-season, were operating at what coach JP Pietersen had estimated beforehand as 70 or 80 per cent at best. This was a club team meeting something close to a Test one, and the gap showed once the home side's resistance cracked.
The conditions dictated much of the opening half. Rain had fallen on Durban for the best part of a day before kick-off, leaving puddles across the surface and forcing both sides to adapt. Every kick landed with a splash, every tackle threw up a bow wave. The All Blacks read the squall early and acted on it, whilst those around them struggled to adjust. Barrett, who took the official award, noted that the side had to keep getting better as the tour progressed — the sort of thing winning captains say, and also the truth.
Context matters
This was not the Sharks of old. The side that beat Crusaders with 14 men in Christchurch in 2014, or lost in agonising fashion to the Vodacom Bulls in the 2007 final at this venue, would have offered sterner resistance. That final was packed to the rafters; on Tuesday night the weather may have kept the KZN faithful away, though the absence of Springboks and the pre-season timing likely played a larger role.
The All Blacks now stand 2-2 on the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour, but the real test looms. The Springboks will not hand over possession as the Sharks did, nor will they be obliged to kick as often. Ellis Park is 11 days away, and it will bear no resemblance to this. Rennie's concern over the slow start is well founded: against the world champions, 40 minutes of drift will not be forgiven.