South Africa's loose forward Kwagga Smith (C) scores a try during the Rugby Championship Test match against New Zealand at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg Tries from Kwagga Smith (pictured centre) and Grant Williams helped seal a memorable Springbok triumph over New Zealand in their Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park on Saturday. Picture: Phill Magokoe/AFP
The Springboks produced a stunning finish in the final 10 minutes to claim a 31-27 victory over New Zealand in their Rugby Championship clash, at Ellis Park, on Saturday.
With the home side facing defeat after a number of unforced errors throughout the game had seen New Zealand leading by 10 in the final 15 minutes of the encounter. The Springboks, however, mounted a stunning comeback with tries from Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams to seal a memorable triumph.
South Africa were dealt the first blow of the encounter in the seventh minute, when fullback Aphelele Fassi was penalised for making a tackle from an offside position five metres out from his own tryline.
From the resultant lineout a powerful maul quickly formed and All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor fell over the line for the opening try. Damian McKenzie added the extra two to see the visitors out to an early 7-0 lead.
Unbelievable touch finder by Sacha 🤯
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The Springboks were rewarded for camping in the New Zealand 22, with a lineout five metres out also becoming a maul before hooker Bongi Mbonambi peeled off the back and powered over for the try in almost identical fashion as the All Blacks had a few minutes earlier. Though flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was unable to add the conversion, the hosts were right back in the game at 7-5 down with Fassi about to return to the field of play after 17 minutes played.
From almost 60 metres out, Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted a mammoth penalty to claim a one-point lead for the hosts after half an hour (8-7).
It did not take long for New Zealand to reply as they moved the ball out wide at speed and wing Caleb Clarke did the rest for his side’s second five-pointer. McKenzie was unable to make the conversion, but his New Zealand still lead by four (12-8).
The four-point lead for New Zealand was reduced to one, as Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a penalty from in front to make it 12-11 after 36 minutes.
New Zealand made the perfect start to the second half as Jordie Barrett intercepted a pass from the Springboks and in a flash he was under the posts for a soft try for the Springboks to concede. McKenzie obliged with the simplest of conversions to make it 19-11.
The Springboks’ first foray into the All Blacks 22 after the break yielded a penalty which Feinberg-Mngomezulu again was on target with to make it 19-14. However, McKenzie responded immediately from the restart to restore his side’s eight-point cushion (22-14).
Kurt-Lee Arendse went off the field in the 47th minute, as it appeared he was concussed following a heavy hit to the head. He was quickly escorted off the field for a Head Injury Assessment, while Handre Pollard came on in his place.
Moments later, Feinberg-Mngomezulu reduced the deficit once more with an easy penalty to make it a five-point game (22-17).
New Zealand bagged their bonus-point try as they swung the ball out wide at pace quickly from a lineout, which created space on the touchline for Clarke who sprinted away from the Springbok defence to score. Though McKenzie missed the conversion, New Zealand had grown their lead to 10 (27-17).
After a number of runs at the All Blacks line by the Springboks, the pressure told as New Zealand replacement prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi was yellow-carded.
The Springboks reeled off a number of pick-and-goes from the resultant penalty, as Smith scored under the posts. With Feinberg-Mngomezulu nudging over the conversion, it was a three-point game heading into the final 10 minutes (27-24).
With the game seemingly ignited, the Springboks converted from a setpeice from close range as replacement scrumhalf Williams spotted a gap next to a ruck as he dived over for the try which put his side into the lead. Mngomezulu made no mistake with the conversion to see the Springboks into a four-point lead with just over four minutes remaining (31-27).
South Africa 31 (11): Try: Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith, Grant Wiiliams. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalties:Feinberg-Mngomezulu (4)
New Zealand 27 (12): Tries: Codie Taylor, Caleb Clarke (2), Jordie Barrett. Conversions: Damian McKenzie (2). Penalty: McKenzie.
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