A Test which started with an insanely low flyover of Cape Town’s DHL Stadium by two passenger jets finished with the Springboks surviving a turbulent last few minutes to hold off the All Blacks 33-26 for a win which squared the series.
There is sure to be more said and written about the wisdom of flying so low over a stadium filled with more than 56,000 people – a South African rugby tradition which has surely done its dash.
Fortunately, it appeared to go to plan – such that it was – and likewise the Boks will believe they are heading in the right direction after a predictable response to their Johannesburg setback last weekend.
After Boks head coach Rassie Erasmus once again broke convention, if not rugby law, by changing his entire front row minutes before the match kicked off, the home side were far better across the field defensively and, unlike at Ellis Park, converted their pressure into points.
They were outscored four tries to three by the All Blacks, who again had the better of the second half, scoreboard-wise, but struck when they had to and never allowed the visitors the lead.
All three of their tries were scored in the first half and they were all scored around the fringe of the breakdown; a result of intolerable pressure and a Boks pack determined to right the wrongs from last week.
Midfielder Jesse Kriel was over first for a converted try after only two minutes.
The response from the All Blacks was precise – a wide ball to Will Jordan capitalised expertly by the right wing who broke two tackles and passed inside to halfback Cam Roigard.
A Cheslin Kolbe penalty gave the Boks the lead again, with centre Damian de Allende then crashing over for a try which should have been disallowed for a clear obstruction on Simon Parker by hooker Deon Fourie. None of the four match officials, including the TMO, either saw it or found fault with it.
Damian McKenzie’s try following a breakout by Ardie Savea kept the All Blacks in it but skipper Siya Kolisi’s response just before halftime was a big blow. Back from a hamstring injury, Kolisi only played two minutes into the second half but in hindsight he had done enough by then.
Two Kolbe penalties after the break extended the Boks lead to 30-14 but back came the visitors via Leroy Carter’s pace. Another Kolbe penalty disrupted the momentum, but Savea’s converted try with three minutes remaining gave the All Blacks belief.
Another converted try would have tied the game and had a significant impact on the series but alas for the visitors a break by Jordan was snuffed out and replacement Andre Esterhuizen won the turnover.
It was here – over the ball – that the Boks were better this morning, with hooker Malcolm Marx stealing three by himself.
The home side were also better discipline-wise and while their attack didn’t flow, it didn’t really have to. The pack provided the platform that the All Blacks, who struggled with their lineouts and defending the driving maul, could not live with.
“You can’t let the Springboks get ahead like that in the first two minutes and I think we were just chasing the game,” Savea said afterwards. “But I’m very proud of the boys – we stuck in there, we fought, but we came up short.”
The Boks lost replacement lock Lood de Jager to a yellow card in the final minutes after he made head contact with Carter in a tackle but the All Blacks couldn’t capitalise.
The All Blacks’ decision making was nowhere near as good as it was last weekend, with Luke Jacobson and lock Tupou Vaa’i giving away daft penalties and No.10 Ruben Love perhaps not running the attack as he may have hoped.
Roigard, second-five Jordie Barrett and left wing Carter were among the All Blacks’ best, with replacement hooker Asafo Aumu putting pressure on veteran Codie Taylor for a start in the third Test in Johannesburg next weekend.
Loose forward Simon Parker was busy and powerful and likewise lock Fabian Holland was involved in just about every All Black success. Replacement loosie Peter Lakai also had his moments.
But, on a slippery surface, the All Blacks could not build the consistent pressure and tempo they wanted. Their attack lacked flow and too many offloads was spilled under pressure or should not have been made in the first place. Patrick Tuipulotu, on as a late replacement, was guilty of the latter.
“I’m massively proud of the effort,” coach Rennie told Sky Sport afterwards. “We were under the pump and a fair way behind the scoreboard late in the piece.
“We created a lot of opportunities. Maybe if we had taken a couple of them in the fist half it might have been a different picture.
“We’ll lick our wounds but there was a lot of positive stuff out there tonight. We’re confident we can bounce back.”
It is Rennie’s first defeat as All Blacks coach.
There may be a sense that his team ran out of runway this morning and that a victory next weekend at FNB Stadium will surely make up for it but the All Blacks have much work to do.
South Africa 33 (Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi tries; Cheslin Kolbe 3 cons, 4 pens)
All Blacks 26 (Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Ardie Savea tries; Ruben Love 3 cons)
Halftime: 24-14
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