The Springboks have won the Greatest Rivalry series 3-1 with a 43-28 victory in Baltimore this morning during which they demonstrated once again why they will be so difficult to beat at next year’s World Cup.
They preyed on the All Blacks’ difficulties under the high ball – something that has been an issue for New Zealand for several years and which shows no signs of being resolved – and made the most of their scrummaging and mauling strengths at M&T Bank Stadium.
They also consistently had the rub of the green in terms of the match officials’ decisions – and several of those could have gone the other way – but they thoroughly deserved the victory for their greater accuracy combined with an attacking spark that troubled the All Blacks throughout.
The All Blacks, missing key players Ardie Savea and Quinn Tupaea, needed to start well and put the Boks under scoreboard pressure but alas for them they failed to do so.
While only 17-14 down at halftime it was the Boks who poured on the pressure and forced the All Blacks into catch-up mode in the second half.
It should be said that the All Blacks never lost belief or the willingness to fight, but that is a low bar when considering the history and record of this side.
Instead, they needed a spark and a bit of luck and they could not find either. It was the Boks who finished the stronger and they are looking ominous in terms of their World Cup defence in Australia as they again displayed a game plan that is perfect for high-pressure knockout rugby.
“We had a couple of opportunities and we let them off the hook… they proved why they are the world champions,” losing captain Codie Taylor said.
The Boks squeezed the All Blacks on defence and slowed New Zealand's ball brilliantly, if not always entirely legally.
There was a long delay in the first half due to a breakdown in the match officials’ communication technology but, once that was resolved, the calls consistently went the way of the men in green and gold.
Kurt-Lee Arendse’s second-half try by the posts which effectively sealed the win came after an early tackle by replacement Cameron Hanekom on Josh Moorby but it was not clear and obvious enough for the officials, and instead of reaching for a card to punish a late tackle on Cam Roigard, who did not have the ball, it was the halfback who was penalised for an early incident at a breakdown.
A Manie Libbok head contact in a tackle on Jordie Barrett was only penalised when a different referee may have shown a yellow card, and so it continued.
Earlier, a mistaken breakdown penalty against Moorby awarded on the advice of a touch judge allowed the Boks to set up for a lineout drive which they converted.
In other words, it was clear this would not be the All Blacks’ day. It was also the first time New Zealand have lost three consecutive Tests since 2022.
The Boks scored six tries to four – the first time this series they have outscored the All Blacks in terms of tries in a Test.
“The boys put in a massive shift again,” head coach Dave Rennie told Sky Sport afterwards. “You look at all the numbers - everything is very even, but they were electric when they got the opportunity.
“It’s disappointing – we had plans for winning the series but the work ethic has been excellent and the guys have been great.”
Taylor was over first after Damian McKenzie made good inroads on the left but the Boks replied with tries from Damian De Allende and Morne van den Berg that Rennie will believe came too easily, with Sam Darry buying a dummy for the latter.
The All Blacks' continuity play was highlighted in an extraordinary attack which featured 32 phases finished with Will Jordan going over by the posts for the try which narrowed the scoreline before halftime.
Rennie's men needed to score first after halftime to keep the pressure on but it was the Boks who extended their lead via Malcolm Marx from a ubiquitous lineout drive.
Ethan Blackadder’s first try in Tests was a good reward for his endeavour, but the Boks rode their luck again through Arensde’s try and Hanekom’s was the final nail as the match got away from New Zealand.
Beauden Barrett’s late try in his 145th Test was a mere consolation for the All Blacks.
Brother Jordie was again a standout, while No.10 Richie Mo'unga had his moments behind a pack that struggled for parity. Tupaea's replacement Anton Lienert-Brown struggled before being replaced with a leg injury late in the first half.
Taylor added afterwards: “I’m proud of the whole group… it’s been an awesome tour and I know it’s going to set us up for the future.
“We’ve fallen short in this series but I can assure everyone at home that we’re working hard.”
South Africa 43 (Damian de Allende, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cameron Hanekom tries; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pen, 2 cons, van den Berg con, Manie Libbok 2 cons)
All Blacks 28 (Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, Beauden Barrett tries; Damian McKenzie 4 cons)
Halftime: 17-14
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