South Africa overpowered New Zealand 29-24 in a pulsating third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, seizing a 2-1 lead in the four-match "Greatest Rivalry" series and leaving the All Blacks staring at elimination heading into next weekend's decisive fourth Test in Baltimore.
In front of 85,976 fans packed into Soccer City — a venue Kolisi asked his team to use as a tribute to those who fought against apartheid in nearby Soweto — the Springboks weathered a spirited New Zealand fightback before their set-piece dominance ultimately proved decisive.
The result came at a significant cost, however. Wing Cheslin Kolbe, the series' most accurate goal-kicker, departed with what was later confirmed as a broken jaw after a collision in the first half, while All Blacks captain Ardie Savea limped off with a shoulder injury before half-time. Both players have been ruled out of the remaining fixture.
A First Half of Contrasts
New Zealand arrived in Johannesburg determined to silence the vuvuzelas early, and their ambition was rewarded inside the opening quarter. After Peter Lakai produced a crucial turnover to halt South Africa momentum, Will Jordan surged clear to shift play deep into Springbok territory. When fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was sin-binned for knocking down Savea's offload, the All Blacks pounced from the resulting penalty — a well-drilled lineout move freeing Savea to power through under-staffed fringe defence and score.
With Kolbe sidelined and the scoreboard reading 7-0 to New Zealand, the cauldron of Soccer City fell momentarily quiet. But the Springboks responded with characteristic physicality. Damian de Allende shrugged off a tackle from Leroy Carter and fed Kurt-Lee Arendse, who finished in the corner in the 21st minute after a sustained spell of All Blacks penalty offences. Mngomezulu, restored to the field, converted to level the scores at 7-7.
New Zealand's third try of the half was a thing of beauty. Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa'i combined to buy territory through intelligent carrying, and when Arendse committed to a tackle on Carter out wide, Savea was on hand to scoop up the loose ball and score his second try of the afternoon. Ruben Love's conversion put the visitors 12-7 ahead, but the Springboks' scrum was about to reassert itself.
Coach Rassie Erasmus had been stung by Dave Rennie's accusation in the build-up that South Africa's front row were "walking around" their opposite numbers. Hooker Malcolm Marx, loosehead Ox Nche and tighthead Wilco Louw responded emphatically, driving through the All Blacks pack with such force that referee Angus Gardner awarded a penalty try. The conversion levelled matters at 12-12 at half-time, and the tone of the second half was set.
Second-Half Stranglehold
The interval did little to slow New Zealand's ambition. Jordan, gathering a deft Carter offload off the floor, sliced through a gap to score in the 55th minute and restore a 17-12 lead for the visitors. For a moment, an upset of historic proportions seemed possible — New Zealand had won on South African soil only once before, during the legendary 1996 tour.
But the Springboks' response was devastating. Just two minutes later, Jesse Kriel shrugged off a weak Leroy Carter tackle and scampered over from close range. Mngomezulu's conversion put South Africa ahead for the first time at 19-17, and the hosts never looked back.
With Savea's absence depriving New Zealand of their captain's relentless energy and leadership, South Africa's pack began to exert an iron grip. Marx scored from a monstrous rolling maul after sustained scrum pressure forced replacement tighthead Fletcher Newell to concede a penalty deep in All Blacks territory. The conversion and a subsequent 70th-minute penalty from Mngomezulu extended the lead to 29-17, and the job was effectively done.
Replacement fly-half Campbell Love crossed for New Zealand in the closing stages to improve the scoreline, but Taukei'aho's late consolation try — converted from the touchline — was too little, too late. The Springboks had been here before and knew how to close out a Test from this position.
Kolisi's Milestone, Rennie's Lament
For captain Siya Kolisi, the victory carried personal significance. It marked a record 55th win as Springboks skipper, a milestone achieved in a venue and on an occasion laden with meaning. Before kick-off, Kolisi had urged his players to honour the legacy of those who had fought for freedom in Soweto, and the performance was delivered with the intensity the occasion demanded.
"We knew it was going to be physical, we knew New Zealand would come at us," Kolisi said. "But the guys showed what we're about. When we needed to step up, we stepped up."
Rennie, whose team now face the prospect of losing the series in Baltimore, refused to be downcast. "The gap is small," the New Zealand coach said. "A couple of errors on our part made the difference. We'll be better for it."
The fourth and final Test takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 12, with the series — and the bragging rights that come with it — on the line. For South Africa, a draw would be enough. For New Zealand, only a victory will do.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/rugby-erasmus-rennie-southafrica-allblacks-3rd-test-6ff501d98b5d0a2ffcb7d47a4f044342
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c7830m55lklo
