All Blacks star could be set for lengthy ban after incident sparks online backlash

Images circulating after Friday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener appear to show Holland making contact around Stormers forward Evan Roos as players competed close to the try line.

The still image has prompted a major reaction from supporters, with some questioning whether the incident warranted closer examination from the match officials.

However, others have strongly defended the 23-year-old, arguing that the image does not provide the full context of the incident and that Holland appeared to lose his footing while entering the breakdown.

One supporter wrote: “He slipped.”

Another added: “It’s a contact sport, move on.”

A third said: “Don’t cherry pick still photos!!!”

However, several South African supporters questioned whether the reaction would have been different had a Springbok player been involved.

One commented: “If it was a Bok his bags would have already been packed.”

Another wrote: “Whatever was in the way clean it out. If a Bok... different story.”

There is currently no confirmation that Holland has been cited or faces any disciplinary action, and a still photograph alone cannot establish whether foul play occurred.

The incident came during an eventful encounter in Cape Town which saw the All Blacks eventually pull clear to win 38-21 after the scores had been locked at 14-14 deep into the second half. New Zealand scored four late tries to put the contest away. 

Holland's appearance was particularly significant after a difficult year. The lock dislocated his shoulder during the Highlanders' pre-season and subsequently missed the entire Super Rugby Pacific campaign before recovering in time for the South African tour. 

I'd avoid writing that he "kneed Roos in the head" as a statement of fact. From the still, you can safely say the image appears to show contact around the head/neck area, while making clear the sequence/video context matters. That also gives the article a stronger debate angle rather than making an accusation you can't substantiate.

With places in the Test 23 up for grabs, these five All Blacks endured what could best be described as failed auditions.

This was an evening to forget for Tosi.

The tighthead endured a torrid opening half at scrum time, conceding three penalties as the Stormers repeatedly targeted his technique.

His positioning was a particular problem, with his feet appearing too far behind him at the set-piece and leaving him vulnerable when the pressure came on.

Tosi did at least contribute defensively, completing all eight of his tackles and adding his considerable frame to New Zealand’s carries and clean-outs.

But props are ultimately judged heavily on the scrum, and this was not the statement he needed to make.

With the Springboks’ enormous forward pack waiting later on the tour, Rennie will have taken note.

Verdict: Will be fortunate to make the Test 23 on this evidence.

All eyes were on Beauden Barrett as the centurion made his first appearance under Rennie, but his eagerly-awaited opportunity failed to go to plan.

There were flashes of the Barrett everyone knows. He was perfect from the tee, kicking all three of his conversion attempts, and almost manufactured an early try for himself.

But the errors comfortably outweighed the positives.

Barrett looked surprisingly uncomfortable underneath the high ball and was caught in awkward positions on several occasions, including one contest during the first half where he failed to properly get off the ground.

His kicking from hand was also inconsistent. A couple of ambitious chips failed to come off, while attempts to play his way out of his own 22 created unnecessary pressure.

A short restart to begin the second half added to the frustration before he conceded a penalty for contact with an opponent competing in the air and then knocked on around the hour mark.

Perhaps most damagingly, New Zealand's late attacking explosion arrived after Barrett had departed in the 68th minute.

Verdict: This was supposed to strengthen his case for the Tests. Instead, Barrett failed his first major audition under Rennie.

Another frustrating international outing for Billy Proctor.

The centre has produced some outstanding rugby at Super Rugby level but has yet to consistently translate that dominance into the All Blacks jersey.

This was another missed opportunity.

Proctor dropped the ball just metres from the Stormers line when New Zealand had an excellent opportunity to score, an error that rather summed up an underwhelming performance.

Things then went from bad to worse when he was forced from the field early in the second half with a shoulder injury.

Rennie subsequently confirmed the centre was one of the injury concerns to emerge from the opening game of the tour.

With competition fierce in New Zealand’s midfield, Proctor needed a statement performance in Cape Town.

It never arrived.

Verdict: An underwhelming display made worse by an injury that could further damage his chances of facing the Springboks.

Having missed out on selection during the July Tests, Simon Parker arrived in South Africa with a sizeable point to prove.

His audition could hardly have started worse.

Parker was shown a yellow card in the 14th minute following repeated All Blacks infringements, having twice illegally attempted to stop the Stormers' driving maul.

To his credit, the loose forward responded impressively.

Parker powered over shortly before half-time, showing excellent strength to finish through contact while remaining in the field of play.

There were also glimpses of his physicality around the breakdown and in the carry.

However, he wasn't nearly as influential as New Zealand needed him to be and struggled to match the involvement of his fellow back-rowers.

Against the Springboks, discipline will be non-negotiable.

Verdict: Recovered from his yellow card with a try, but didn't do enough afterwards to turn his evening into a successful audition.

Moorby’s evening was a strange one.

For long periods, the full-back was barely involved as an attacking threat despite coming into the match following an outstanding Super Rugby campaign.

He attempted to manufacture overlaps on a couple of occasions but couldn't execute the final pass or offload.

Then came his biggest contribution.

Moorby finished brilliantly in the corner during New Zealand's late scoring burst, finally demonstrating the finishing ability that made him such a dangerous attacking weapon during the domestic season.

Unfortunately, his night ended on another negative note.

The full-back was shown a late yellow card as the Stormers were awarded a penalty try, becoming the third All Black to spend time in the sin-bin.

New Zealand finished the contest having conceded 16 penalties and received three yellow cards, numbers Rennie will desperately want cleaned up before the Springbok Tests.

Verdict: Took his try superbly but was too quiet for too long and the late yellow card spoiled his biggest opportunity to impress.

The final score will suggest a relatively comfortable All Blacks victory.

It wasn't.

The Stormers had New Zealand locked at 14-14 after 65 minutes, despite being without a host of their leading Springboks, before the tourists finally took control.

Late tries from Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Moorby and Asafo Aumua transformed the scoreboard and spared the All Blacks from an uncomfortable opening result.

Rennie praised his players' character afterwards but acknowledged areas of concern, particularly New Zealand's work at the set-piece and in the aerial battle.

Against the Stormers, they survived those shortcomings.

Against the Springboks, they might not.