All Blacks Beat Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park to Lead Series
New Zealand have taken a 1-0 lead in rugby's greatest rivalry series after beating South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park, ending the Springboks' 12-Test winning run in the process.
The All Blacks outscored the world champions five tries to one in a result that few had predicted, producing a second-half surge of 21 unanswered points to turn a tight contest into a comfortable win.
A Physical First Half
South Africa dominated the opening 45 minutes physically, particularly in the scrum, where they won a steady stream of penalties. The All Blacks scrum came under sustained pressure, and the penalty count in the first half favoured the hosts.
The Springboks were unable to convert that dominance into points. They turned down several kickable penalties at altitude in favour of attacking lineouts and scrums, a decision that repeatedly failed to produce tries. Cheslin Kolbe kicked two penalties, and Andre Esterhuizen scored their only try after coming on early as a replacement for the concussed Kurt-Lee Arendse.
New Zealand's tries came through Will Jordan, who finished in the right corner following a lineout drive, and Josh Moorby, who supported a touchline break from Tupou Vaa'i. Both sides lost players to head injury assessments, with New Zealand forwards Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord both leaving the field after colliding while attempting a tackle and neither returning. Half-time arrived with South Africa leading 13-12.
The Second Half Turns
South Africa extended their lead to 16-12 with another Kolbe penalty early in the second half, but the momentum shifted shortly afterwards. Fabian Holland charged down a clearing kick from scrum-half Grant Williams inside the Springboks 22 and beat the last defender to score, with Ruben Love converting to put New Zealand ahead 19-16.
A break from full-back Damian McKenzie then set up a scrum from which Luke Jacobson scored the fourth try. Jordan added his second late on, his 53rd international try, to establish the final margin.
South Africa's discipline deteriorated as the pressure built. Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were both sent to the sin bin inside the final 10 minutes, leaving the hosts to finish with 13 players.
The statistics reflected the pattern of the match. New Zealand had only 39 percent of territory but 56 percent of possession, and won 14 turnovers to five.
Reaction
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie described the contest as an arm wrestle despite the eventual scoreline, saying his side defended repeatedly and were clinical when opportunities came.
Rassie Erasmus pointed to two or three moments where his team allowed the game to slip, attributing the errors to the intensity and sharpness of the New Zealand performance.
The result ends a South African winning run that began 11 months ago with a 43-10 victory over New Zealand in Wellington, the heaviest defeat in All Blacks history. It also means New Zealand have won three of their last four Tests at Ellis Park.
The second Test takes place at Cape Town Stadium next Saturday, followed by a third at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September and the series finale in Baltimore on 12 September.
