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A week after the Ellis Park shock, South Africa responded exactly as everyone expected: a ferocious start, eighty minutes of applied physicality and a surgical Cheslin Kolbe off the tee. It finished 33-26 to the Springboks in Cape Town, and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series is level at 1-1.
The paradox sits in the scoresheet: the All Blacks scored four tries to three and still lost. The difference was Kolbe’s 18 points from the boot — four penalties and three conversions — and a South African defence that absorbed New Zealand’s possession all evening.
A nightmare start for the All Blacks
The script was written inside a minute: the Springbok maul rumbled deep into the 22, the ball was released to the backs and Jesse Kriel cut through for the opening try. New Zealand hit back on the quarter-hour through Cam Roigard, put in by Will Jordan off a lineout move, but South Africa surged again and Damian de Allende restored the lead, the two centres doing enormous work in midfield.
Damian McKenzie kept the All Blacks in touch, then three minutes from the break the captain delivered: Siya Kolisi, once again this team’s true leader, ran in the try that made it 24-14 at half-time.
The finish: de Jager binned, Esterhuizen’s steal
After the break only Kolbe scored for the hosts — penalties on 48 and 50 minutes — while the All Blacks kept coming: Leroy Carter rounded the edge on 65 minutes, then Ardie Savea, driven over by Tuipulotu four minutes from time, cut the gap to seven and reopened the contest.
The last minute was heart-in-mouth stuff: Lood de Jager was sin-binned for a head-on-head contact on Carter and New Zealand went to a lineout near halfway with one last shot. That’s where it ended: a tackle on Will Jordan and a perfect breakdown steal from replacement Andre Esterhuizen. Springboks ball, series level.
What now?
“1-1, folks — the series is level, and now we get to enjoy next week.”
Two Tests remain: Saturday 5 September at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg — where, with the series all square, the winner takes the lead — then the finale on 12 September in Baltimore, USA. South Africa have rediscovered their certainties; New Zealand have shown they can hurt anyone. Either way, this series is delivering on every promise.
Read also
- All Blacks stun Springboks 33-16 in first Test
- Total Kolbe and a Springbok side a step ahead
- All DanPat Rugby news
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