The Springboks secured the four-Test home series against the All Blacks with a 29-24 win at FNB Stadium on Saturday, in front of 85,500 supporters. The 2-1 series result means Sean Fitzpatrick's 1996 squad remains the only All Blacks side to win a series on South African soil.
The match was level 12-all at half-time, but the Boks dominated the final 28 minutes to run out five-point winners. New Zealand led 7-0 early and stretched it to 12-5 before the break, and were first to score in the second half to move 17-12 ahead. From the 50th minute to the 78th, however, South Africa controlled the set piece and lifted their defensive intensity markedly — a stark contrast to the previous two Tests, in which the Boks had conceded 33 points to New Zealand's three across the final 30 minutes.
The platform that turned the match was the scrum. A professional foul by All Blacks flyhalf Ruben Love, following a linebreak by Jasper Wiese and a strong carry from replacement Manie Libbok, gave the Boks a penalty scrum — and when New Zealand's front row folded, the referee awarded a penalty try. Malcolm Marx then finished off a powerful maul that drove the All Blacks back 30 metres, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting and adding a long-range penalty to put the result and the series beyond doubt. The All Blacks' fourth try came after the hooter.
Siya Kolisi set a new record of 55 Test wins as Springbok captain. Ethan Hooker, at left wing, was named Player of the Match for his contributions on both sides of the ball. Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende, Wiese and Cobus Reinach were among the prominent performers across the park.
Ardie Savea had been the driving force for New Zealand, scoring both their first-half tries and leading with authority before leaving injured in the 32nd minute — a departure that coincided with a shift in momentum. The All Blacks had entered the match having scored nine tries across the opening two Tests, and their backline again showed fluency despite a difficult swirling wind, but their scrum came under sustained pressure on South African put-ins throughout.
Springbok try scorers: Kurt-Lee Arendse, penalty try, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2).