The Springboks once again showed massive character as they fought back from a 9-3 half-time deficit to beat the All Blacks 18-12 in their Rugby Championship clash at a sold-out Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The win ensured Rassie Erasmus’s men remained No 1 in the World Rugby rankings.
Siya Kolisi and Malcolm Marx scored second half tries as the Springboks kept the All Blacks try-less in a match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
The Springboks also won back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 as they beat New Zealand for a fourth consecutive time.
The first half belonged to the kickers as Damian McKenzie landed three penalties, while Handre Pollard was on target with one of his own.
However, the Springboks’ pressure paid off after the break as they “won” the second half convincingly 15-3.
With this victory, the Springboks also consolidated their position at the summit of the world rankings, which they would have otherwise conceded in defeat.
The Springboks picked up 0.21 ranking points for their win to stay in first place, while the All Blacks lost a similar amount, but stayed third.
Meanwhile, hours after the final whistle in Cape Town, Argentina embarrassed Australia in their Rugby Championship clash, winning 67-27.
That result saw the Pumas pick up 0.92 ranking points, but resulted in no climb in the rankings, leaving Argentina in seventh spot.
However, the Wallabies lost 0.92 points and slipped a position to ninth.
In other matches played on Saturday, Fiji beat Tonga 50-19 and Japan beat the USA 41-24.
WHERE THE SPRINGBOKS STAND IN THE RANKINGS
| RANK | COUNTRY | POINTS |
| 1 | South Africa | 93.58 |
| 2 | Ireland | 92.12 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 88.25 |
| 4 | France | 86.96 |
| 5 | England | 85.40 |
| 6 | Scotland | 82.82 |
| 7 | Argentina | 82.49 |
| 8 | Italy | 79.98 |
| 9 | Australia | 79.78 |
| 10 | Fiji | 78.43 |
| 11 | Wales | 76.04 |
| 12 | Georgia | 74.10 |
| 13 | Samoa | 73.54 |
| 14 | Japan | 72.29 |
| 15 | Portugal | 70.61 |
| 16 | Tonga | 67.78 |
| 17 | Uruguay | 67.39 |
| 18 | Spain | 66.29 |
| 19 | USA | 66.08 |
| 20 | Romania | 62.62 |
MATCH REPORT
After the Springboks trailed at half-time, the second half started with as much drama as the first.
Damian McKenzie almost added three more at the start of the second half, but his 50m effort just fell short and the Springboks could clear.
A good attack by the Springboks forced New Zealand to try and slow the ball down, the Boks opted for a lineout drive and Malcolm Marx, who just replaced Bongi Mbonambi, got close, but still no cigar for the hosts.
From the resulting maul however, Eben Etzebeth forced himself over the line, but the TMO ruled out the try.
Another penalty, another Bok maul, another stop by the All Blacks, but something had to give. It did with a determined drive by Siya Kolisi, scoring his 12th Test try from close range. Pollard converted and suddenly the Boks were leading 10-9 after 49 minutes.
Rassie Erasmus was also making other changes, with Lukhanyo Am replacing Canan Moodie on the wing. Vincent Koch and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaced Frans Malherbe and Pollard and the latter’s first act was to kick a penalty goal and in the process move past the 50 points mark in Test rugby. That moved the Boks into a 13-9 lead with the fourth quarter left to play.
Trust New Zealand to come back though, albeit after a Bok error on the ground, again allowing a ball carrier to be isolated. McKenzie kicked his fourth penalty goal and the Bok lead was cut to one point.
Le Roux was yellow carded 62 minutes in after his interception effort was deemed illegal, but McKenzie’s kick hit the upright. The All Blacks reacted quickest to the bounce, reclaimed possession and attacked, but the Boks defence held and they managed to work their way up field.
The All Blacks got pinged and Feinberg-Mngomezulu stepped up to extend the lead. The crowd remained silent through as he missed from 50m out, leaving the Boks one point in front with 10 minutes to play.
McKenzie had a chance to cut into the Bok lead, but pulled his effort to the left as well seven minutes from time.
Like last week, silly indiscretions hurt the All Blacks. Prop Tyrel Lomax illegally stopped Kolbe from chasing a Jayden Hendrikse kick and was yellow carded. The Boks opted for the lineout and Malcolm Marx crashed over, pushing the lead to 18-12 with the All Blacks playing the game out with a prop short.
The last few minutes were sheer madness as the Boks kept pounding away, but credit to New Zealand, they defended stoutly to prevent a third try and a Springboks bonus point. Kolbe, who executed the perfect lineout throw, even attempted (and missed) a drop goal attempt from close range to prove that he is human after all.
That is why it was okay to cry to see Kolisi lift the Freedom Cup aloft in the Cape Town night sky, cheered on by many who got exactly what they came for.
SCORERS
South Africa
Tries: Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx
Conversion: Handre Pollard
Penalties: Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
New Zealand
Penalties: Damian McKenzie (4)
