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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Your support makes all the difference.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:
Robertson on New Zealand’s ‘need’ of Sam Cane
Coach Scott Robertson expects former New Zealand captain Sam Cane to be “that Test veteran we need” on Saturday evening when the All Blacks take on the Springboks in Johannesburg.
Cane has been named in the All Blacks’ starting side for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.
“Sam has been incredible off the field for us. Now’s an opportunity for him to be that Test veteran we need in the Highveld; all that experience and that calmness but also really good, tough shoulders,” Robertson told reporters on Thursday.
“We’re excited for him. Dalton’s got a bit of a thumb injury which ruled him out but there’s not much in it. Dalton played really, really well but we thought that was best for this Test and combinations.
“Obviously, Ethan’s (Blackadder) in great form and you’ve got Ardie Savea out there so it’s a good balanced loose forward trio.”
All Blacks expecting hostile reception in South Africa
New Zealand are expecting a hostile reception on and off the pitch at Ellis Park on Saturday when they meet South Africa in the first clash between the southern hemisphere heavyweights since the Rugby World Cup final in France.
Sam Cane, the former captain and experienced flanker, will be briefing the squad’s rookie players on what to be ready for when they arrive at the Springboks’ spiritual home, forwards coach Jason Ryan told New Zealand media.
“Even the bus trip is pretty feral on the way in, to be fair,” said Ryan. “There are a few [hand] signals going on, and a few empty cans coming towards the window and that sort of thing.
“But I think in all honesty, it is coming from a good place. It is a hell of a rivalry, the Springboks and All Blacks. As much as they want to beat us, there is a good amount of respect there I feel.
“I know there is from us and we look forward to that.”
Springboks given huge boost as Eben Etzebeth passed fit for All Blacks clash
South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has been passed fit to face New Zealand in a Rugby Championship showdown in Johannesburg on Saturday, but will start from the bench having originally been excluded from the team announced this week due to injury.
Coach Rassie Erasmus omitted the double World Cup winner from his matchday 23 when he named it on Tuesday, but amid a crisis in the second row that sees the Springboks still without five regulars, he has drafted the giant lock into the replacements.
Etzebeth takes the place on the bench of flanker Marco van Staden and should he come on will earn a 125th cap, moving into second place outright on the all-time list for South Africa, two behind former lock Victor Matfield.
Springboks given huge boost as Eben Etzebeth passed fit for All Blacks clash
Etzebeth had initially been left out of South Africa’s squad for the encounter with New Zealand at Ellis Park
South Africa v New Zealand prediction
South Africa look to continue their unbeaten start to the Championship but these two matches will definitely be their toughest tests of the tournament.
Luckily, the Springboks are at home, and Erasmus’ side will know they can do damage to a team that has already lost to Argentina. Add in the psychological advantage of the World Cup final win, and the advantage is clearly on South Africa’s side.
South Africa to win.
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New Zealand line-up
New Zealand XV: 1 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Tupou Vaa’i; 6 Ethan Blackadder, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Ardie Savea; 9 TJ Perenara, 10 Damian McKenzie; 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a.
New Zealand team news
New Zealand need to strike a blow early as they look to claw back some of the points lost to Argentina in the opener, and head coach Scott Robertson has chosen to go with experience in his starting 15.
Captain Scott Barrett takes his place in the second row alongside Tupou Vaa’i, with former captain Sam Cane also starting for the first time since the World Cup final after an injury to Dalton Papali’i.
In the backs, it is unchanged from the win over Argentina, with TJ Perenara continuing at scrum-half alongside Damian McKenzie at 10.
Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane are in midfield, with Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett chosen as the back three for the first of the double-headers in South Africa.
South Africa line-up
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe; 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Ben-Jason Dixon , 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith; 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
South Africa team news
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has returned to a more full-strength side after making 10 changes to the side that beat Australia in the opener.
This time, the majority of the pack returns, with the notable exception of Eben Etzebeth, who originally looked set to miss out through injury, but is now included on the bench.
And the back line returns to normal too, with Aphelele Fassi, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe all keeping their places alongside new fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
How can I watch it?
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