South Africa secured a hard-fought 29-24 victory over New Zealand at FNB Stadium, claiming their first win against the All Blacks at the Johannesburg venue after previous defeats in 2010 and 2012.
The opening exchanges belonged to the visitors, with Ardie Savea's converted try establishing a 7-0 advantage after 10 minutes. South Africa responded through Kurt-Lee Arendse 10 minutes later, but Savea's second try restored New Zealand's lead at 12-5 after 25 minutes. The Springbok scrum proved decisive before the interval, earning a penalty try four minutes before half-time to level proceedings at 12-12.
Both flyhalves received yellow cards for cynical offences in a physical first half that also saw Savea and Cheslin Kolbe forced from the field with injuries. The second half saw South Africa pull clear to secure the five-point margin, though the final scoreline reflected the narrow margins that have characterised recent encounters between the two sides.
Historic venue breakthrough
The result ends South Africa's winless record at FNB Stadium against New Zealand, a venue where the All Blacks had previously triumphed 29-22 in 2010 and 32-16 in 2012. The stadium, described as electric despite its bowl-like structure, provided the backdrop for another instalment in what has been billed as rugby's greatest rivalry.
The victory continues South Africa's strong recent form in the series and reinforces their status as contenders heading into the next phase of the international calendar. For New Zealand, the defeat extends a challenging period away from home, with the loss of Savea to injury compounding the disappointment of the result.