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For forty minutes at Ellis Park the script held. South Africa led 13-12, the Springbok scrum was grinding, and New Zealand were hanging on. Then the game turned over completely. Final score 33-16 to the All Blacks, five tries to one, and a twelve-Test South African winning run ended in Johannesburg.
This was the first of four Tests in the series billed as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry — the return of the traditional tour after thirty years. New Zealand went in as underdogs. They walked off seventeen points clear and top of the world rankings.
A first half that told a different story
Cheslin Kolbe opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty: the Springboks’ do-everything man in this version of the side, and deadly off the tee. Will Jordan hit back with the opening try, then Andre Esterhuizen burst through to put South Africa back in front. Josh Moorby restored the New Zealand lead, Ruben Love converted from the touchline, and Kolbe nudged the hosts ahead again.
Half-time: 13-12 to South Africa, and it could have been more. On 36 minutes Malcolm Marx lost the ball over the line with Jordie Barrett’s hand on it. The Springboks had held plenty — territory, scrum, physical command — and turned almost none of it into points.
What changed after the break?
Ruthlessness changed. New Zealand won the second half 21-3 and never gave the lead back: on 47 minutes Fabian Holland charged down Grant Williams’ clearing kick, gathered, stepped Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and went over. Luke Jacobson followed off the base of a five-metre scrum, then Will Jordan again to seal it. Ruben Love landed four conversions from five.
South Africa, meanwhile, kept spilling ball and choosing wrong. Rassie Erasmus went early with his changes and the scrum that had dominated until the 54th minute fell apart in the closing quarter.
Rugby is made of small details, and today we got yet another reminder of it.
How much does this actually mean?
It means a lot for the series and rather less for the pecking order. That Springbok scrum dominance is still a serious weapon, and on the right day it can wreck anybody: for the second Test on Saturday 29 August at DHL Stadium in Cape Town the odds will probably swing back to the hosts. But rugby is settled on the day. And Ellis Park belonged to New Zealand.
There’s the wider frame too: this series opens the road to the World Cup. Eighteen months of Tests, of proof and of doubt, start right here.
Read also: Scrum and metres to South Africa, the win to New Zealand · Chaotic finish at Ellis Park: Springboks down to 13 and the TMO overruled
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