The Springboks pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat the All Blacks 31-27 in a Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Down by 10 points with just over 10 minutes remaining, the South Africans rallied to score two late tries and secure their third consecutive win over New Zealand.
The match began with the All Blacks showing strong form. Codie Taylor opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a try from a well-executed maul, and Damian McKenzie converted. New Zealand continued to build on their lead with two tries from Caleb Clarke, who was in scintillating form, and a crucial interception try from Jordie Barrett early in the second half. McKenzie's accuracy with conversions and a penalty goal kept the scoreboard ticking over, putting the All Blacks ahead 27-17 by the 60th minute.
However, the Springboks weren't ready to concede. The turning point came when All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi was shown a yellow card for collapsing a maul in the 67th minute. Taking full advantage of the numerical superiority, the Springboks pushed forward. Kwagga Smith powered over for a try in the 69th minute, narrowing the deficit. Just six minutes later, replacement scrum-half Grant Williams darted through a gap in the New Zealand defence to score the match-winning try, leaving the All Blacks stunned. Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was on target with all his conversions and also slotted four penalties throughout the game, keeping South Africa within striking distance.
This encounter was the first between the two sides since their World Cup final clash in Paris last year, and it did not disappoint. While the All Blacks managed four tries to South Africa’s three, their indiscipline cost them dearly in the latter stages. The win keeps the Springboks on track for their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. Both teams will face off again next weekend in Cape Town, where the All Blacks will aim to bounce back and level the series.
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