South Africa v New Zealand LIVE: Result and reaction from Rugby Championship as Springboks win Freedom Cup
South Africa 18-12 New Zealand: Sifa Kolisi and Malcolm Marx scored to secure the win for the Springboks
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South Africa defeated New Zealand 18-12 in the Rugby Championship to increase their lead at the top of the table and make it four wins in a row against their old rivals.
Much like in the match in Johannesburg, New Zealand started as the smarter side, taking the points on offer and opening up a six point lead from the boot of Damian McKenzie. Handre Pollard cut that down to three with a penalty kick of his own but a third penalty for the All Blacks’ fly-half sent them into the break on top.
That only spurred the Springboks on though. They came out quickly from the restart, overpowering the New Zealand defence and sending captain Siya Kolisi over the line for the first try of the game. A penalty each made the score 13-12 and the game was set up for a tense finale.
However, a stupide shoulder barge from Tyrel Lomax saw him sin binned with 10 minutes to go and New Zealand, now down to 14 players, couldn’t keep Malcolm Marx at bay with the substitute scoring to secure the Freedom Cup for the hosts.
Relive the score updates and reaction from the Rugby Championship match below:
‘You can never underestimate New Zealand'
Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has warned “you can never underestimate” the All Blacks ahead of this weekend’s clash in Cape Town.
“You can never be too comfortable when you play against the All Blacks and we know they’re going to be a desperate team,” Stick told reporters on Friday.
“You saw after they lost against us at the Mbombela Stadium, they managed to bounce back. That’s the quality of a New Zealand team – if you’re not at your best on a day, they will put you away. (It’s) also a lesson we can learn from Argentina earlier in the Championship.
“Once again, they’ve got world-class players and they’re a well-coached side. On a day, if you’re not at your best they will punish you. If you look at the changes they’ve got now in their team, you look at that back three, you don’t really want to give those guys some space and enough time to make decisions because they will punish you, they’re world-class players.
“You can never underestimate an All Blacks team. But once again, we’ve done everything in our power to make sure we’re well prepared also for the game.”
All Blacks v South Africa history
Played: 107
All Blacks wins: 62
South Africa wins: 41
Draws: 4
The All Blacks are playing at Cape Town Stadium for the first time, a venue that was used for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
In their 11 previous visits to Cape Town they have played at Newlands Stadium where New Zealand have an impressive 7-3 record against South Africa. They also thrashed England in the 1995 World Cup semi-final at Newlands.
Their previous visit to Cape Town was in 2017, a 25-24 victory.
Is South Africa vs New Zealand on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Rugby Championship fixture
Only around an hour until kick-off now, so another reminder how you can watch todays’s match.
When is it?
South Africa vs New Zealand is due to kick off at 4pm BST on Saturday 7 September at Cape Town Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Mix, with coverage starting at 3.50pm BST. Subscribers can also stream the match via Sky Go.
Stuart Hogg to start for Montpellier on return to rugby this weekend
Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg will play his first competitive match in more than 16 months after being selected to start for Montpellier in their Top 14 campaign opener at home to Lyon on Saturday.
The 32-year-old retired from professional rugby in July 2023, in the lead-up to the World Cup in France, reasoning that “my body has not been able to do the things I wanted and needed it to do”.
However, after a tumultuous year out of the game in which he was plagued by off-field issues including being arrested for alleged domestic abuse, it was announced in July that Hogg would be returning to top-level rugby after signing for Montpellier on a two-year contract.
Stuart Hogg to start for Montpellier on return to rugby this weekend
The 32-year-old retired from professional rugby in July 2023.
Blackadder on bouncing back
The All Blacks camp has been focused on bouncing back from the narrow loss last weekend with Ethan Blackadder underlining the motivation of the side.
“I don’t think [there’s increased pressure],” Blackadder told reporters. “I think we’re actually more excited because we know we were close in that game. The motivation (in the group) is high to get it right.”
Robertson explains All Blacks’ changes
Will Jordan shifts to fullback, Sevu Reece comes in on the right wing with Mark Tele’a brought in on the left for the test in Cape Town.
TJ Perenara is replaced at scrumhalf by Cortez Ratima, who gets only his second start for the All Blacks, while Wallace Sititi, who made his debut in July, takes the place of Blackadder on the blindside of the scrum.
“It is an opportunity to give Will a run at fullback. He has trained well and covers fullback anyway in the game with how we play,” Robertson said.
“Sevu is a world class wing, we are fortunate to have some quality players in the squad. Will and Sevu have played a lot of rugby together.”
All Blacks bench Beauden Barrett for second Springboks clash
New Zealand have dropped full-back Beauden Barrett and scrumhalf TJ Perenara to the bench in four changes to their starting line-up to face South Africa in the Rugby Championship on Saturday as Ethan Blackadder and Caleb Clarke miss out through injury.
”It was a tough conversation, but both are great team men, they have been around a long time,” head coach Scott Robertson told reporters. “The All Black jersey is important to all of us. If they have to come on and finish the job they will.
“They want to start and be out there for the majority of the match but they understand (why the decision has been made). It is two great names to have come on and finish the job for us.”
Marlie Packer says England will benefit from ‘toughest’ pre-season in big year
Looking a bit closer to home, Marlie Packer has no doubt that one of the toughest pre-seasons she can remember with England will pay dividends in the short and long term.
The biggest 12 months in Red Roses history begins on Saturday when England tackle fierce Six Nations rivals France at Kingsholm.
They host New Zealand on Saturday week in a second preparation Test before heading to Canada for the WXV1, when their opponents will be the Black Ferns again, United States and Canada.
Marlie Packer says England will benefit from ‘toughest’ pre-season in big year
England are ready for tough tests against France and New Zealand.
Erasmus on bench split versus New Zealand
Rassie Erasmus revealed why he decided to go for a standard 5-3 split on the bench instead of the 6-2 which has become the more regular option for the Springboks during his time in charge when his team took on New Zealand.
“I think a guy like Salmaan Moerat is very unlucky not to be in this team so to unpack it, two loose forwards on the bench, then Pieter-Steph du Toit covers lock, so we can probably put on the two loose forwards on in some way,” he said.
The head coach also explained why the Springboks decided against citing Sam Cane for his tackle on Siya Kolisi at Ellis Park.
“He (Cane) came over and apologised. When you look at the action, yes, he could go a bit lower; but I don’t think he went for Siya’s head. It was just a head-on-head, it wasn’t with his shoulder it was his head on Siya’s nose. Sometimes it goes for you and against you.
“The poor guy was red carded in a World Cup final. It wouldn’t have been nice to see him get a red card again.”
Siya Kolisi passed fit for South Africa
“Siya had two options, because it is a nose fracture. He could either have it set back now and be out for three weeks, or have it done in two weeks, which is what he has chosen,” head coach Rassie Erasmus told reporters.
“We asked Siya the question if he would be half-hearted in contact because his nose is sore, but he came through training this week without any problem.”
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