Springboks pull off brilliant fightback to beat All Blacks again
The Springboks had to come back from ten points down to beat the All Blacks 31-27 at Ellis Park on Saturday.
New Zealand made a fast start and soon had the Springboks under the pump with Aphelele Fassi given a yellow card with the match just a few minutes old.
All Blacks lead early
Codie Taylor would come up with the ball for the first try of the match as the All Blacks mauled over.
The Springboks responded well though and soon after Bongi Mbonambi drove over although he appeared to lose the ball as he grounded it. The try stood although the Springboks wouldn’t kick the conversion in the confusion.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu would make amends when he slotted a 60 metre goal to give South Africa a slender lead.
However, soon after an error in South Africa’s own half gifted the All Blacks a run-in for Caleb Clarke.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu would step up to close the gap again from the tee and the Springboks enjoyed the stronger finish to the half.
The flyhalf had a dip with a drop goal just before the break but sent it just wide. The Springboks still had another crack moments later but New Zealand held on to take the one-point lead into the break.
Half time
Beaudan Barrett’s intercept try straight after the break gave the All Blacks a hold on the match.
The teams traded penalties with Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotting two and McKenzie one before Clarke’s second score gave the All Blacks a ten-point lead.
The Springboks wouldn’t give up though and fought back into the contest with their setpiece.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi paid the price for ill-discipline as he went to the bin and gave the Springboks another boost.
Kwagga Smith scored a try with ten minutes to go and the Springboks were back in it.
The tide had turned and the Springboks would breach New Zealand once more with Grant Williams sniping to score.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed a late penalty but it wouldn’t matter to the result as the Springboks closed out a great comeback win.
Teams: Springboks vs All Blacks
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.
Who was the best Springbok in the win over New Zealand?
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