South Africa v New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction Rugby Championship as Springboks mount late comeback
South Africa 31-27 New Zealand: Two late tries from the Springboks ensured they defeated the All Blacks in Johannesburg
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South Africa edged past New Zealand in a dramatic encounter in the third round of the Rugby Championship to cement their place at the top of the tournament table.
In a tight first half, tries from Codie Taylor, Caleb Clarke and Bongi Mbonambi were the highlights as both sides looked to gain an advantage after a yellow card to Aphelele Fassi.
The scores were locked at 11-12 to the visitors at half-time, and the second half started in perfect fashion for the All Blacks as Jordie Barrett intercepted a loose pass and raced home for five points.
From there it looked like the All Blacks were set to dominate, especially after Caleb Clarke crossed again, but New Zealand couldn’t capitalise when it mattered.
And soon after they paid the price, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi getting a late yellow card to spark an impressive Springboks turnaround.
Kwagga Smith crossed the line soon after to give South Africa life, and from there it was one-way traffic as Grant Williams completed the comeback in the 74th minute.
It could have been a vital win for the All Blacks as they looked to close the gap on the Springboks at the top of the tournament table, but instead South Africa end the day with a lead that looks difficult to relinquish – eight points over their nearest challengers, New Zealand.
Relive the action from Ellis Park Stadium as South Africa defeat New Zealand:
South Africa 17-27 New Zealand
51 mins
TRY!
A little disjointed there as the Springboks go through the hands, with Jesse Kriel collecting on the wing before his poor offload causes a knock-on. From the kick, Fassi calls the mark, and it’s a lineout to New Zealand after his rash kick.
And it’s a brilliant routine from New Zealand, with Barrett switching with Perenara and Ioane selling the dummy. They have the overlap and it goes through the hands to Clarke once more, and he skips over the desperate challenge from Kriel before going over under the challenge from Kolbe.
McKenzie puts the conversion wide.
South Africa 14-22 New Zealand
49 mins
Another South Africa penalty and they opt to kick, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu easily finds the target for three points.
South Africa 14-22 New Zealand
48 mins
It looks like Arendse has been hit in the head or neck, and he’s being taken off. He looked in a bad way there, after going in low. He stayed down, and looked like he could be concussed. He comes off for Handre Pollard, with Kriel going to the wing.
South Africa also just made several changes to the pack, with Steenekamp, Marx and Koch all coming on.
South Africa 14-22 New Zealand
46 mins
South Africa look to bounce back and they have the lineout on the five-metre line. Marx shifts it to Williams, and before long the ‘Boks have a penalty advantage for someone not rolling away.
Another penalty is blown, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu should get this over easily – he does.
But straight away, Steenkamp goes off his feet from the restart and McKenzie has a chance to cancel out the three South African points, and he does just that.
South Africa 11-19 New Zealand
41 mins
TRY! Out of nothing for the All Blacks.
The Springboks are trying to put it through the hands but Jordie Barrett steps into the space and grabs the interception. He still has a bit to do under pressure from three South African backs, but he angles the sprint to stay out of reach and cross almost right under the posts.
The conversion is easy and we move to 11-19.
South Africa 11-12 New Zealand
40 mins
We’re back underway, with the second half starting in Johannesburg!
The kick-off is caught and the All Blacks clear.
HALF-TIME! South Africa 11-12 New Zealand
A great game so far, and it is finely poised, at the reverse of the final score of the 2023 World Cup final.
Fassi’s early yellow affected the opening stages but South Africa recovered well to score their own try, and they were then unlucky to fumble and end up victim to a lightning-quick All Blacks counter.
Nevertheless, the All Blacks were unlucky themselves, as the South Africa try should never have stood!
This has been even so far, and you’d expect it to continue as such.
Below is the try from Clarke.
HALF-TIME! South Africa 11-12 New Zealand
Fassi’s kick is chased by Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Barrett is forced to kick out of play just two seconds before the 40 minutes was up!
The Springboks win the lineout, with Reinach happy to play through the forwards, but it ends with a knock on and it’s half-time at 11-12 to the visitors!
South Africa 11-12 New Zealand
39 mins
A clever carry and offload from Feinberg-Mngomezulu almost creates the opportunity out of nothing, but it ends with an All Blacks throw and a kick that lands in the hands of Fassi.
The Springboks break the gain line before sending it back to the 10 for the drop-goal – but it’s wide.
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