The Springboks have recorded an absolutely stunning victory over the All Blacks in Wellington, victorious by two points in the fourth round of the Rugby Championship.
The game all started as Beauden Barrett popped the ball up to Jordie Barrett, allowing him to burst through for a five-pointer just five minutes into the game.
The All Blacks threatened the South African line multiple times after that, but despite their early dominance, didn’t score until the 17th minute of play after the second brother combo of the night, this time Aaron and Ben Smith, set up the second try for New Zealand.
At that stage it looked like the fans were destined for a scoreline similar to last year’s clash in Albany, but it wasn’t to be as Apiphwe Dyanti dotted down in the corner, meaning that at least they couldn’t be held to nil.
Willie le Roux and Malcolm Marx scored five-pointers from close range to stun us all and to put the Springboks in the lead, 21-12.
New Zealand weren’t having any of it, and wrestled back a try to Rieko Ioane in the 38th after a long buildup.
Handre Pollard converted a penalty just before the break for a 24-17 lead to the visitors.
As the second half started, it sure didn’t take long for New Zealand to make an error, before Cheslin Kolbe burst over for the try just two minutes in, for a 14-point lead to the South Africans.
Rieko Ioane kept the ABs in the game with a try 10 minutes later, but Apiphwe Dyanti lifted the buffer out to 12 points with a five-pointer a few minutes later.
Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea scored tries in the 61st and 74th minutes, but neither tries were converted leaving South Africa in the lead by 2.
The South Africans held the All Blacks out for three minutes after the siren before a knock-on ensured the Springboks won by two.
Ex force fan
Guest
Boks got pinned regulary for offsides so not officiating the offside line was not an issue. Boks surely didn't get the 50/50 calls, so cannot see why the AB would complain about the officials.
David Baker
Roar Pro
Du Toit - 28 Mostert - 23
Sheldon
Guest
Didn’t see any offsides
Phantom
Roar Rookie
And a huge number of off sides by bok backline.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Yellow card was well deserved. Move on
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Except the final offside where he ignored the tj call. Boks were deserved winners but it is unlikely that they will be gifted so many tries again.
Alan Poyner
Roar Rookie
I don't understand why Owens is rated as an international Ref. He was woeful last night, as an Aussie with NZ conections I was going for the ABS , but by half time I was supporting the Boks as I felt they were playing 16 men. I used to think he was just biased against Australia, but after last night I reckon he is a home town ref who is influenced by the crowd. I watched it with NZ commentators and even they several times thought that SA was hard done by. Great game though by the Bok halfback, what a dynamo.
frisky
Roar Rookie
An interesting night. In both games, the underdogs won, although the favourites could have won their games at the death - thwarted only by stupid play in both games. The teams were seperated by 4 and 2 points. Makes for a more interesting competition.
frisky
Guest
Well, although the Boks played with plenty of fire, they did not win, the AB gifted them the game. #1. Just as the Boks gifted the Wallabies the previous week with that stupid lineout overthrow which allowed the WB to score under the posts, Jodie Barrett threw the ball into no-mans land inside his 22, where there was only one AB anywhere in the area facing 4 Boks. Stupid and suicidal. At least the Bok throw in was planned but inexpertly performed. I think Hansen may have a few words with Jodie. #2. Starting the second half 7 points adrift, the AB centre decided to double the deficit by giving the Bok winger a free run to the line by passing the ball directly to him with the fullback up in the line How kind. #3. Could BB ever kick so poorly again? Missing 4 conversions, of which 3 were in a very comfortable position. #4. The AB and the NZ public do not like drop-goals (although they were grateful for Carter’s drop goal in the World Cup final.) They had the opportunity to drop kick from directly in front for about 4 minutes. Same as in the WC semi-final against France years ago (1999 or 1995 ?) after which I thought that they head learnt an important lesson. Maybe every new generations needs to be taught the same painful lesson anew. The Boks would have ended the game much earlier if they had been in the situation. Just dumb !
Julz
Guest
Exactly. Needs a new kicker. If they really played Jordie, then let him kick the ball. Both Jordie and McKenzie are better goal kickers. But no, Hansen will stick with his golden boy.
Julz
Guest
This exactly. I will not trust that man to kick our goals in a World Cup semi-final or the Final. Especially in a tight close match.
Superba
Guest
Tackle count recorded as SA 246 NZ 46
Superba
Guest
Taylorman I must agree with you .The AB do have a remarkable record and I am unable to recall NZ being given a hiding when losing .When they lose it is mostly marginal .There are times however when the opposition gets the better of them .In 2009 SA beat them three times .And of course there once was the choker tag . Lest we forget .
Nabley
Roar Rookie
The writing was on the wall in the opening stanza. ABs aided by a stuffed up kick off by Pollard were on attack down about the Boks 22. Beautiful I thought. Slow action by the otherwise outstanding Aaron Smith at a breakdown, saw a detachment of Boks, leave rhe ruck and set up in the defensive line before the ball from Smith had even been passed. The ABs were going no where. Successive phases saw the Boks push the ABs back to the half way line. What is happening, I said to myself. Now the ABs scored and scored again, but the message had been sent. These Boks were taking no prisioners and they had decoded the AB broken play methods. Yes the occassional try will get past but they were going to grind the ABs into the deck. The deck it was. The ABs need to get back to playing Test Rugby like the Boks did, rather than a souped up version of Super Rugby.
Jacko
Guest
i dont believe that BBs kicking cost us the match.....We had plenty of opportunity to win yet failed to nail it down....Knock-ons, Intercepts ( cost 2 trys)and silly decisions (cost 1 try) were what cost us this match and that happens every now and then.....SA scored 36 points....If you want to beat the ABs then score 36 points and defend your butts off......Well played SA and i feel sorry for the next ABs opponent
Jacko
Guest
Far out Double agent...The Boks have a fantastic win and all you want to do is go on about a SR match from years ago....SA deserve the right to celebrate without this sort of comment
Gloria
Roar Rookie
He probably would have hit the post.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
You display clinically significant symptoms of xenophobia in many of your comments. This thread is about NZ and SA rugby.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
That was impressive. Don't recall seeing AB forwards make so little ground in the collisions. The Bok tackling was incredible. Even in the last 20 min, you could see the speed of ball recycling at the breakdown actually increase, incredibly, and the Boks did not yield. Amazing also, considering a crucial ten minutes was played down to 14. Heroic effort that will be talked about for years. Great for the championship and the WC19.
Superba
Guest
Boks did more then 200 tackles .