The Springboks beat the All Blacks 29-24 in their Test match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The Springboks survived a typical All Blacks fightback and a brutal arm-wrestle at Soccer City to edge New Zealand 29-24 and seize a 2-1 lead in the Greatest Rivalry series on Saturday evening.
In a match that had virtually everything — bone-rattling hits, yellow cards, controversial moments, set-piece dominance and four tries apiece — the Boks held their nerve when it mattered most to claim a victory that will rank among the hardest-fought in the 112-match history between these great rivals.
The teams board a charter plane on Saturday night for the USA finale in Baltimore with the Boks holding the advantage.
The build-up to kick-off was back to convention — no selectorial high jinks from Rassie Erasmus, and no flyover after Airlink pilots who elected to spare trauma to the worldwide observers who got their knickers in a knot the week before.
South Africans roll differently, and flying close to the wind — not to mention by the seat of our pants — is just one example.
Talking of wind, an Arctic variety blasted across the stadium from early afternoon and, by kick-off at 5.10pm, it was close to gale force.
There was no sign of rain, but it felt like it could snow.
After all the hot air during the week about alleged South African scrummaging irregularities, annoyed Oom Daan Human, the Bok scrum coach, had wound his warriors up into beasts ready for the Roman Colosseum.
Referee Nika Amashukeli, who was ruled out of the second Test through illness, had also become something of a lucky charm for the Boks, having presided over their 43-10 annihilation of New Zealand in Wellington exactly a year ago.
And the Boks' good fortune under the Georgian was destined to continue.
The All Blacks' intent to run the Boks off their feet was instantly clear. A first-minute lineout was taken quickly and the ball flung wide.
The frenetic opening 10 minutes were played deep in New Zealand territory, with the early monster hit by Pieter-Steph du Toit on his old target Jordie Barrett — remember the 2023 World Cup final — epitomising the Springboks' dominance.
But then came the All Blacks' fightback, breathtaking as always.
It began, inevitably, with Will Jordan shimmying through the defence in his own 22 before banging the ball downtown into the opposite 22. Only excellent covering from Cheslin Kolbe saved the day.
But the black wave kept crashing into the danger zone, and when the green rock was finally washed away, it was calamitous.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was yellow-carded for slapping down a pass, Kolbe went off with a head knock, and Ardie Savea went over for a try.
The Boks were on the back foot, but Oom Daan's men came to the rescue at scrum time, and hard-won penalties relieved the pressure.
Manie Libbok, on for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, kicked to the corner flag and the maul duly advanced towards the line, only to be blown up for obstruction.
The pressure told, though, when Damian de Allende swept a long pass out to Kurt-Lee Arendse, who darted over in the corner to the deafening roar of 87 000 celebrating South Africans.
The try was converted, but another Kiwi breakout from deep in their half culminated in Savea diving over for his second try, despite an apparent knock in the build-up.
The replay appeared to show as much, but the massive roar of indignation from the crowd could not persuade the officials to chalk off the score.
Ardie Savea, it would seem, has in the eyes of the officials reached the same state of invincibility as his predecessor as New Zealand captain, Richie McCaw.
Still, no Springbok supporter was happy to see Savea leave the field in the 30th minute clutching his left arm in pain.
A 30m Malcolm Marx blast through the defence exploded the Boks back into the game. The attack was illegally stopped inches from the line by offside Ruben Love, who was sent to the sin bin.
The Boks opted for a scrum and the resulting acceleration towards the line ended with a penalty try.
The Greatest Rivalry was level at 12-12 at half-time, with the series deadlocked at 1-1.
The arm-wrestle continued into the second half, but the growing dominance of the Springbok scrum was becoming ominously evident.
Love missed a shot at goal, but a telling break by wing Leroy Carter provided an opportunity for his fellow wing Jordan, who scored in the 55th minute. Love missed the conversion.
Jesse Kriel, who had been having a forgettable game with missed tackles and a knock-on, redeemed himself spectacularly when he carved through a gap out wide and accelerated to the posts.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu coolly converted to put the Boks 19-17 in front.
It was as if the slow poison of scrum supremacy had kicked in. A lineout maul from a penalty saw the Boks open the taps and propel Malcolm Marx over the line.
The conversion gave the Boks a 26-17 lead, and more forward dominance earned a penalty for Feinberg-Mngomezulu to stroke home.
After the hooter, Samisoni Taukei'aho barrelled over for a consolation try, but it mattered little.
South Africa: Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, penalty try, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
New Zealand: Tries: Ardie Savea (2), Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei'aho. Conversions: Ruben Love (2).
