Springboks Beat All Blacks 29-24 to Take 2-1 Series Lead
South Africa have moved 2-1 ahead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry after a 29-24 win over New Zealand at FNB Stadium, a result that means they cannot lose the four-Test series.
A crowd of 85,976 in Soweto watched the Springboks recover from 17-12 down to lead 29-17, before a New Zealand try after the hooter reduced the final margin.
Savea Puts the All Blacks in Front
The opening quarter went badly for the hosts. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shown a yellow card in the 10th minute, and Cheslin Kolbe left the field injured soon afterwards. Ardie Savea took advantage, scoring in the 11th minute and again in the 26th to give New Zealand control.
Kurt-Lee Arendse responded for South Africa in the 21st minute, and the Springbok pack then began to assert itself. Sustained scrum pressure produced a penalty try in the 38th minute, levelling the scores at 12-12 at the interval. Ruben Love was sin-binned for New Zealand shortly before half-time.
Will Jordan restored the New Zealand lead in the 56th minute, but Jesse Kriel hit back almost immediately for the Springboks, who went in front for the first time on the hour. Malcolm Marx added a fourth try in the 65th minute from another driving maul as the home side pulled clear.
Samisoni Taukei'aho crossed two minutes into stoppage time to make the scoreline closer than the balance of the second half had suggested. Both sides finished with four tries, the difference coming largely from the boot, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting two and adding a penalty.
Two Significant Injuries
New Zealand will be without Savea for the final Test. He injured his shoulder in a collision with Marx at a breakdown, left the field and was replaced by Wallace Sititi. Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed afterwards that his captain would not travel to the United States.
South Africa have lost Kolbe, who broke his jaw inside the opening ten minutes. Rassie Erasmus confirmed the injury after the match and said the squad had cover at full-back, with Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi both available. Carlu Sadie, Boan Venter and Ntuthuko Mchunu will remain in South Africa alongside Kolbe, as will Ben-Jason Dixon, who is still showing concussion symptoms. Herschel Jantjies has been added to the travelling party.
Erasmus Plays Down the Lead
Erasmus was quick to correct any suggestion the series had been decided, pointing out that New Zealand can still draw it in Baltimore while acknowledging his side were happy with the night's work.
He also used the press conference to defuse the row that had run through the previous fortnight, apologising for the expletive-laden briefing he gave after the second Test when told Rennie had questioned the legality of the Springbok scrum. Erasmus called his counterpart a gentleman and praised the way New Zealand have played on tour.
The scrum, the source of that dispute, was decisive in Johannesburg under Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli. Erasmus conceded there had been passages where his front row was under pressure and was relieved when New Zealand cleared the ball rather than keep the set piece alive.
Both squads travel to the United States on the same charter flight. The fourth and final Test takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore next weekend, with New Zealand needing a win to share the series.
