The Springboks held off the All Blacks in a thrilling third Test at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
South Africa won 29-24 after the score was deadlocked at 12-all at half-time.
The Springboks scored four tries through wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Jesse Kriel, hooker Malcolm Marx as well as a penalty try. Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added two conversions and a penalty.
The All Blacks replied with tries by flank Ardie Savea (2), wing Will Jordan and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, while flyhalf Ruben Love added a conversion, as did fullback Damian McKenzie.
Some 85 976 spectators turned up to watch the match.
READ | Rassie Erasmus finds a loophole, but his latest trick won’t fly at Rugby World Cup 2027
With their win, the Springboks extended their lead atop the World Rugby rankings to 2.43 points and now boast 94.33 to the All Blacks’ 91.90.
The fourth and final Test will take place in Baltimore in the United States next Saturday.
Kick-off is at 23:00 (SA time).
Teams
South Africa
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 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 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok
New Zealand
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)