The Springboks secured the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series with a convincing 43-28 victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore, drawing a massive crowd of 68,173 spectators. With this historic win, South Africa claims the series overall, having won three of the four fiercely contested Test matches.
The Springboks set the tempo early in the match, spreading the ball wide from the opening whistle. Their early pressure forced an error, allowing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to step up and slot a penalty to edge South Africa into a 03-00 lead in the fourth minute.
The All Blacks responded by slowly building their way into the South African red zone. Following wave after wave of relentless attacks, skipper Codie Taylor crashed over for New Zealand's first points in the eighth minute. Damian McKenzie added the extras, putting the All Blacks ahead 07-03.
South Africa then took their turn to patiently build an attack. After multiple phases inside the All Blacks' 22-meter line, Damian de Allende picked up the ball from the back of a ruck in the 15th minute, bulldozing his way over for the Boks' opening try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to regain a 10-07 lead.
Following a lengthy break in play due to a breakdown in referee communications, the Boks struck again in the 22nd minute. Morne van den Berg sniped off the back of a lineout maul to score South Africa's second try, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting to extend the lead to 17-07.
By the half-hour mark, the Bokke were thoroughly dominating the encounter. They used their big men to puncture the defence with powerful carries and won the aerial battle by reclaiming most of their high kicks. However, disciplined defending from the All Blacks denied them further points.
New Zealand then clawed their way back up the field. After spending several minutes in the Boks' red zone, Will Jordan powered through in the 38th minute, carrying Feinberg-Mngomezulu over the tryline with him. McKenzie converted to cut the deficit to 17-14.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu overcooked a kick into the corner just before the whistle. This left the Bokke disappointed to head into the tunnel with only a three-point cushion after dominating extended periods inside All Blacks territory.
The Boks wasted no time striking early in the second half. In the 49th minute, Malcolm Marx scored off the back of a powerful lineout maul to extend the South African lead to 22-14.
Just three minutes later, Pieter-Steph du Toit cracked the game wide open with the Boks' fourth try. South Africa had noticeably upped the tempo, with the outside backs starting to slice through and make serious meters. Morne van den Berg stepped up to convert, making it 29-14.
The All Blacks refused to back down, and Ethan Blackadder crashed over in the 63rd minute as New Zealand slowly wrestled back some momentum. McKenzie slotted the conversion to bring them within striking distance at 29-21.
However, the Boks halted the comeback in the 72nd minute when Kurt-Lee Arendse pounced on a cruel bouncing ball. He hit the gas and raced 65 meters downfield to score a spectacular fifth try. Manie Libbok added the extras to stretch the lead to 36-21.
Cameron Hanekom put the result completely beyond doubt in the 76th minute. Attacking off the back of a ruck, he crashed through the defensive line to score, with Libbok converting again to blow the scoreline out to 43-21.
With time already up on the clock, Beauden Barrett managed to score a consolation try for New Zealand. McKenzie converted the final act of the game, bringing the final score to 43-28 in favour of a rampant Springbok side.
Scorers:
Springboks: Tries: Damian de Allende, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Morne van den Berg, Manie Libbok (2). Penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
All Blacks: Tries: Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, Beauden Barrett. Conversions: Damian McKenzie (4).
Teams:
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett.