The All Blacks produced a much-improved performance in Durban on Tuesday night, overpowering the Hollywoodbets Sharks as New Zealand continued its Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa.
After a below-par display against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, New Zealand responded strongly at Kings Park, taking control of the match and building a commanding lead over the home side.
The All Blacks were leading the Sharks 28-0 as the match continued, leaving the Durban side facing a difficult battle to find a way back into the contest.
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie made several changes to his starting line-up and experimented with combinations that had previously worked well during the Nations Championship.
Among those to impress were Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett, who combined effectively and provided the All Blacks with greater attacking threat.
However, the visitors’ impressive performance was overshadowed by an injury concern involving Damian McKenzie.
The full-back appeared to hurt his ankle after landing awkwardly during the first half. Although McKenzie was able to remain on the field long enough to score a try, he was subsequently replaced before half-time.
His injury could prove significant for New Zealand, with the All Blacks preparing for a four-Test series against the world champion Springboks.
The first Test is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg next Saturday week, making McKenzie’s recovery a key concern for the New Zealand camp.
Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters braved heavy rain and bitterly cold conditions to attend the match at Kings Park.
Fans of all ages, including children, turned out to support both teams despite the challenging weather.
The large crowd also contributed to heavy traffic around the stadium precinct, with Durban Metro Police deployed at key intersections to manage motorists and spectators.
Before kick-off, supporters expressed contrasting expectations about the result. Some Sharks fans remained confident that the home side could secure a convincing victory, while others backed the All Blacks based on their experience and attacking quality.
One Sharks supporter predicted a 20 to 30-point victory for the home team, insisting that the difficult weather would not prevent fans from supporting their side.
Another supporter backed New Zealand, praising the All Blacks’ talent and experience.
On the field, however, New Zealand quickly showed why it remains one of the leading forces in international rugby.
The All Blacks’ improved execution and attacking combinations allowed them to build a substantial advantage, while the Sharks struggled to match the intensity of the visitors.
For New Zealand, the performance provided an important response after their difficult opening fixture against the Stormers.
For the Sharks, the heavy deficit highlighted the challenge of facing an All Blacks side determined to build momentum ahead of the upcoming Test series against the Springboks.
With McKenzie’s fitness now a concern, New Zealand will hope the injury is not serious as preparations begin for the much-anticipated series against the world champions.