MATCH REPORT: The Springboks moved a step closer to winning this year’s Rugby Championship title after they edged the All Blacks 31-27 at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The world champions were 17-27 down with less than 12 minutes on the clock before tries by Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams helped them secure a famous victory in Johannesburg.
The All Blacks outscored the Springboks by four tries to three in the 80 minutes. However, 16 points off the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu proved to be the difference.
With three rounds left to play, the Boks have a nine-point lead over the All Blacks in the standings.
More to follow…
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Try: Mbonambi, Smith, Williams
Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2
Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 4
For New Zealand:
Tries: Taylor, Clarke 2, J Barrett
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pen: McKenzie
Yellow cards: Aphelele Fassi (South Africa, 7′ – cynical play, tackling from an offside position); Ofa Tu’ungafasi (New Zealand, 68′ – cynical play, collapsing the maul)
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Mark Tele’a.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England) and Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
