New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with a 33-16 victory over the Springboks at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday, running in five tries to one in front of 60,592 spectators in the 50th Test between the teams on South African soil.
The Boks led 13-12 at halftime despite the All Blacks enjoying the better of field position for much of the first half, and were still in contention at 19-16 with 20 minutes remaining. From there, New Zealand's ruthless finishing — aided by yellow cards to Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach in the closing minutes — pulled the visitors clear.
Cheslin Kolbe opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty, before Will Jordan squeezed in at the corner from a Cam Roigard flat pass after a series of Springbok close-range drives had been repelled. Jordan's try in the ninth minute was New Zealand's first from their second entry into the Bok 22.
The Boks lost Kurt-Lee Arendse to an HIA shortly after, the wing failing to return, which forced Jesse Kriel onto the flank and brought Andre Esterhuizen into midfield. Esterhuizen made an immediate impact, bursting through a tackle from a third-phase lineout drive near the All Black line to score his sixth Test try. Kolbe converted to restore the lead.
New Zealand's second try was opportunistic — Tupou Vaa'i loitering on the left touchline collected an offload and put Josh Moorby clear from 30 metres to score untouched. Kolbe's second penalty on 25 minutes edged the Boks back to 13-12 at the break after the Boks had dominated field position through the latter stages of the first half without adding to their tally. Malcolm Marx was held up over the line after a powerful lineout drive, and the ball was ripped from Jasper Wiese as he surged toward the posts.
The Boks nudged further ahead early in the second half through another Kolbe penalty, but New Zealand struck immediately from the restart when lock Fabian Holland charged down a clearance 15 metres from the Bok line to score, making it 19-16. Luke Jacobson and a second Jordan try then sealed the result as the All Blacks capitalised on the Springboks' numerical disadvantage in the final minutes, finishing with five tries to one.