Springboks Defeats All Blacks
By Thabo Mosia
Johannesburg – The Springboks overcame a formidable New Zealand side, securing a 31-27 victory in their Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday. In front of a roaring crowd of more than 60,000 fans, the Boks delivered a performance that will be remembered for years to come, underscoring their status as one of the top teams in world rugby.
The match was a testament to the Springboks’ never-say-die attitude, as they spent much of the game playing catch-up rugby against a well-drilled All Blacks outfit. Despite trailing for most of the encounter, the Boks rallied in the final quarter, turning a 10-point deficit into a stunning victory that keeps them undefeated in the Rugby Championship.
A Game of Momentum Shifts
The All Blacks started the match on the front foot, launching wave after wave of attack that had the Springboks on the back foot from the opening whistle. Their tactical kicking, spearheaded by Damian McKenzie, exploited the absence of Aphelele Fassi, who was serving time in the sin bin for a professional foul near his own tryline. New Zealand capitalized on their early dominance with Codie Taylor crossing the line from a lineout maul, with McKenzie adding the extras to give the visitors a 7-0 lead after just seven minutes.
The Springboks, struggling to find their rhythm, were forced to absorb relentless pressure from the All Blacks. However, as the first half progressed, the Boks began to claw their way back into the game. Cheslin Kolbe sparked the home side with a brilliant run from broken play, and although Kurt-Lee Arendse was denied a try by an unfortunate bounce, the Boks were slowly finding their footing.
It wasn’t long before the Boks responded. A rolling maul deep in All Blacks territory allowed Bongi Mbonambi to power over for South Africa’s first try of the match, although there were questions about whether he had control of the ball as he crossed the line. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s missed conversion left the Boks trailing 12-8, but the momentum was beginning to shift.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s Steady Boot
The Springboks were handed a lifeline when Eben Etzebeth came on as a blood replacement for Ruan Nortje, much to the delight of the home crowd. Feinberg-Mngomezulu then stepped up to slot a long-range penalty goal from close to 60 meters out, briefly putting the Boks in the lead for the first time in the match. However, that lead was short-lived as New Zealand quickly responded with a try from Caleb Clarke, who capitalized on a well-worked move to restore the All Blacks’ advantage.
As the first half drew to a close, the Boks found themselves trailing by a single point, thanks to another successful penalty goal from Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The match was finely poised at 12-11 in favour of the visitors, setting the stage for an intense second half.
The Bomb Squad Makes Its Impact
The All Blacks started the second half with a bang, with Jordie Barrett intercepting a pass from Damian de Allende to race home for a try that extended New Zealand’s lead to 19-11. The pressure was mounting on the Springboks, but it was at this point that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus made a decisive move, calling on his famous Bomb Squad – a powerful set of replacements known for turning games in South Africa’s favour.
The impact was immediate. New Zealand, rattled by the fresh legs on the field, conceded two penalties in quick succession, allowing Feinberg-Mngomezulu to narrow the deficit to 22-14. However, McKenzie was on hand to restore the All Blacks’ lead with a penalty of his own, keeping the visitors comfortably ahead as the clock ticked down.
The match seemed to be slipping away from the Springboks when Caleb Clarke scored his second try, exploiting a defensive lapse in the Bok midfield to cross the line untouched. With 25 minutes left to play and a 10-point gap to close, the odds were stacked against South Africa.
A Dramatic Comeback
With time running out, the Springboks dug deep. Erasmus emptied his bench, bringing on Kwagga Smith and others to bolster the pack. The intensity of the Boks’ play increased, and their relentless pressure finally paid off when a rolling maul near the All Blacks’ tryline was illegally collapsed, resulting in a yellow card for replacement prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
From the ensuing lineout, Smith powered over the line, setting up an easy conversion for Feinberg-Mngomezulu, which brought the Boks to within three points of the lead. Sensing that the momentum had shifted in their favour, the Springboks pressed forward with renewed vigour.
With just five minutes left on the clock, the Springboks launched one final assault on the All Blacks’ line. After a series of hard-fought phases, Grant Williams found a gap and darted over for what would prove to be the match-winning try. The crowd erupted as Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the conversion, giving the Boks a 31-27 lead.
A Tense Finale
The final minutes of the match were nail-biting for both teams. New Zealand, desperate to salvage the game, pushed forward with everything they had, but the Springboks’ defence held firm. A crucial ruck penalty against the All Blacks with three minutes to go gave Feinberg-Mngomezulu a chance to seal the victory, but his kick drifted wide, leaving the door open for New Zealand to mount a last-ditch effort.
However, the Springboks managed the closing stages with composure, maintaining possession and running down the clock. When the final whistle blew, the Boks had secured a memorable 31-27 victory, much to the delight of the capacity crowd at Emirates Airline Park.
Post-Match Reactions
Speaking after the match, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus praised his team’s resilience and fighting spirit. “We weren’t at our best at times, especially in the lineouts where we lost a few attacking opportunities, but the boys never gave up. The Bomb Squad came on and made a massive impact, and we managed to turn things around in the last 15 minutes. It was a real team effort.”
Captain Siya Kolisi echoed his coach’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of staying composed under pressure. “We knew the All Blacks would come at us hard, and they did. But we stuck to our game plan, trusted our processes, and when the opportunities came, we took them. The support from the crowd was incredible, and that gave us the extra energy we needed in the final moments.”
New Zealand coach Ian Foster, while disappointed with the result, acknowledged the quality of the contest. “It was a great game of rugby, and credit to the Springboks for their comeback. We had our chances to put the game away, but they kept coming back at us. We’ll take the lessons from this match and look to improve in the next one.”
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