Springboks' Kolisi warns 'hard work starts now' after rout of All Blacks

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi warned the "hard work starts now" after the reigning champions completed their World Cup preparations with a 35-7 win over 14-man New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday, the All Blacks' heaviest defeat of all time.

As it happened | Springboks 35-7 All Blacks

The Springboks ran in five tries, Kolisi leading the way before wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hooker Malcolm Marx and replacements Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith all went over.

Fly-half Manie Libbok converted the lot as the Springboks easily topped their previous largest winning margin over their arch-rivals and fellow three-time men's World Cup winners, achieved in a 17-0 win back in 1928.

It was also an ideal way for South Africa to serve notice of their intentions ahead of a title defence they start against Scotland in Marseille on September 10.

Kolisi, who returned to action following a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in April during last weekend's 52-16 rout of Wales in Cardiff, was delighted by the support his side received from a capacity crowd of nearly 82,000 at English rugby's headquarters.

"To see so many beautiful South Africans here, I can't tell you how proud I am," said the Springboks 2019 World Cup-winning skipper.

"We knew we had to start up front with the forwards. Our backs are special. We had to concentrate hard."

The 32-year-old flanker added: "Proud of the boys, but we know the hard work starts now. We have to go and defend the World Cup in France."

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South Africa were caught cold when they last played New Zealand in July, with the All Blacks racing into an early 17-0 lead before winning 35-20 in Auckland.

But it was a different