International Friendly· Season 2026
All Blacks ran in eight tries to beat Bulls 50-19 at Loftus Versfeld. Anton Segner named Man of the Match. New Zealand led 24-0 at half-time.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
New Zealand struck first in the 14th minute. After their scrum won a penalty near their own line, they cleared downfield, won the lineout and worked the ball through the line for wing Josh Moorby to score. Moorby added a second in the 18th minute — Beauden Barrett lobbed a high kick to Leroy Carter, who linked with Rieko Ioane, and the ball moved wide to No 8 Peter Lakai, whose pass inside put Moorby over. Barrett converted the second try for a 12–0 lead.
Bulls tighthead Francois Klopper was yellow-carded in the 28th minute for not retreating from a pass, and the All Blacks made the numerical advantage count immediately. Hooker and captain Codie Taylor powered over from a tap penalty in the 31st minute. Then, after the half-time hooter, lock Fabian Holland's back-handed pass off a ruck allowed Taylor to charge over for his second. Josh Jacomb converted for 24–0.
The Bulls hit back 41 seconds into the second half: lock Ruan Vermaak charged over from a penalty lineout, and Curwin Bosch converted. But the All Blacks responded instantly. A turnover was shifted wide for Leroy Carter to somehow stay in play and score. In the 48th minute, Carter linked with Rieko Ioane, who scored under the posts. Jacomb converted both for 36–7.
Bulls struck again in the 53rd minute — No 8 Jeandre Rudolph broke down the blindside from a scrum, linked with Bosch, and Stravino Jacobs crashed through Barrett's tackle to score (36–12).
New Zealand pulled away in the final quarter. Leroy Carter scored his second in the 65th minute off a lineout maul, replacement No 8 Wallace Sititi dotted down under the crossbar in the 76th minute, and Josh Jacomb converted both. Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee grabbed a consolation try in the 73rd minute, converted by Bosch, for the final margin of 50–19.
The Turning Point
Klopper's yellow card in the 28th minute turned early All Blacks territorial dominance into points. Before the sin-bin, New Zealand had two tries on the board but the Bulls were hanging on. In the 12 minutes with an extra man, the All Blacks scored twice through Taylor to make it 24–0 — a deficit far too steep for the Bulls to climb.
Key Performers
- Anton Segner (New Zealand) — Man of the Match. 13 tackles, 12 carries, multiple turnovers. His workrate at the breakdown gave the All Blacks consistent front-foot ball.
- Leroy Carter (New Zealand) — Two tries, 16 carries, five line breaks. A constant threat on the wing who appeared all over the pitch.
- Josh Moorby (New Zealand) — Two first-half tries, 13 carries. His finishing put the game beyond reach before the break.
- Rieko Ioane (New Zealand) — 15 carries, one try, key link play in several scores. Thrived in the wide channels.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The Bulls were forced into 159 tackles to New Zealand's 127, and missed 42 of them — a 26% miss rate that explains the eight tries conceded. New Zealand's discipline was markedly improved: they conceded only eight penalties after giving away double figures in earlier tour matches. The 24–0 half-time lead reflected a game played almost entirely in Bulls territory; New Zealand scored five of their eight tries before the 50th minute. Despite the one-sided scoreline, the Bulls showed attacking ambition in spells, particularly through their back row — their three tries all came from forward runners (Vermaak, Jacobs, Coetzee).
What It Means
The All Blacks remain unbeaten on their 2026 Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour. They next face South Africa in Johannesburg on 22 August 2026 in the opening Test of the series — a match that will carry vastly higher stakes than this franchise fixture. The Bulls return to United Rugby Championship preparations.
Verdict
A professional, controlled dismantling by the All Blacks, whose defensive intensity and back-line movement were a tier above. The 31-point margin was a fair reflection of the gap on the night. Segner's Man of the Match display underlines the depth New Zealand are building ahead of the Tests to come.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 Aug 2026