It will get better. New Zealand’s four-Test tour to South Africa – although the final one is being staged in the United States to stimulate interest there ahead of the 2031 World Cup and raise extra money – has been billed as rugby’s event of the year, never mind the Nations Championship or Six Nations, but it has made a muted start in Cape Town and Durban.

New Zealand duly overcame the Stormers, but only after having three players sent to the sin-bin in a match of 27 penalties.
“Referee Karl Dickson reached for his whistle so often during the match that he resembled a kid sucking on their ...