Springboks break Soweto hoodoo to take 2-1 Rugby Championship lead over All Blacks

The Springboks ended their winless record at FNB Stadium with a 29-24 victory over the All Blacks on Saturday, moving into a 2-1 lead in the series heading into the fourth and final Test in Baltimore on 12 September.

After a bruising first half that finished 12-12, the Boks outscored New Zealand in the second half with two tries and a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty to seal the win.

The previous two Tests at FNB Stadium had both gone New Zealand's way — a 29-22 win in 2010 that spoiled John Smit's 100th Test, and a 32-16 victory in 2012 that coincided with Richie McCaw's 100th Test win. Saturday's result ends that Soweto hoodoo and, in a symmetry of milestones, sees Siya Kolisi become the Springbok captain with the most Test victories.

The match was an eventful one from the outset. The Boks were reduced to 14 men in the 10th minute when Feinberg-Mngomezulu was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-down, and the setback was compounded when Cheslin Kolbe was withdrawn for an HIA and did not return. New Zealand capitalised immediately, with Ardie Savea touching down from a line-out to open the scoring. Savea added a second shortly after, again pouncing on a loose ball following a carry by Leroy Carter, to give the visitors a 12-5 lead.

South Africa clawed back through Kurt-Lee Arendse, who finished a move that saw Damian de Allende beat Carter before releasing the winger. Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion. The Boks then drew level when Ruben Love was yellow-carded with four minutes left in the half, and a powerful scrum inside the New Zealand 22 resulted in a penalty try — 12-12 at the break.

Savea's afternoon ended in the 30th minute when he left the field with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, replaced by Wallace Sititi. His fitness is now a concern for New Zealand ahead of Baltimore, as is Kolbe's status for the Springboks following his HIA withdrawal.

The Boks controlled the second half, adding two tries and a Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty to pull clear and close out a 29-24 win. New Zealand must now win in Baltimore to force a series draw.