All Blacks win tour opener in unconvincing fashion

CAPE TOWN, Aug 7 - In an unconvincing start to their eight-match tour program, New Zealand's All Blacks secured a 38-21 victory over the Stormers in a match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday. The visitors amassed four tries in the closing stages to pull away from the provincial side, who were reduced to 13 men due to several internationals absent from the lineup.

Samisoni Taukei aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby and Asafo Aumua were among the tourists' try scorers. Beauden Barrett kicked three conversions and Josh Jacomb contributed one. The Stormers' points were scored by loose forward Deon Fourie, winger Seabelo Senatla, and debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed. A penalty try was awarded to the Stormers with just two minutes remaining, when Warrick Gelant was tackled high by Moorby as he reached for the line.

New Zealand's coach, Dave Rennie, acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, stating, "We expected it would be a tough game, but we were clinical late in the contest and it’s nice to get the campaign off with a win, but we know we have to be better." The All Blacks tour of South Africa is the first of its kind in 30 years, featuring four tests and four provincial matches. Their next game is against the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday.