New Zealand overturned an 18-point second-half deficit to beat the Lions 41-35 at Ellis Park on Tuesday, extending an unbeaten tour of South Africa and averting what would have been a shock provincial victory.
Late surge secures win
The All Blacks, who beat the Springboks 33-16 in the first Test at the same venue, were out of sorts early and missed a total of 19 tackles as the Lions raced to a 14-0 lead inside seven minutes and still led at half-time. The provincial side pushed as far ahead as 35-17 in the 47th minute, threatening to become the first South African provincial team to topple New Zealand since Orange Free State (now the Cheetahs) in 1976.
But New Zealand, who had fielded just three players who started the Test on Saturday, summoned a late fightback. With five injury replacements used during the tour — one of whom arrived on Monday — and the debut of prop Saula Ma'u, the visitors produced four successive tries in the final 30 minutes to snatch victory.
“avoid a shock defeat”
Tour form and context
The win means the All Blacks have now swept all four provincial sides they faced on the six-week, eight-match tour of South Africa, and they remain unbeaten. The team’s performance at Ellis Park provides continuity after their weekend victory over the Springboks and keeps pressure on the hosts ahead of the remainder of the tour.
Critically, the Lions were coming into the fixture well out of season, having not played since 30 May when their United Rugby Championship campaign ended in the quarter-finals. That lack of match sharpness showed in the closing stages as the All Blacks’ fitness and cohesion paid dividends.
Key match details
| Match | Lions v New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Venue | Ellis Park |
| Final score | Lions 35 – 41 New Zealand |
| Notable stats | Missed tackles: 19; All Blacks tries: 5 |
| Tour record | All Blacks remain unbeaten on the tour |
What it means for both sides
For the All Blacks, the result will be reassuring on two fronts: squad depth and resilience. With only three starters carried over from the Test line-up, the finishing burst underlines New Zealand’s ability to rotate and still find match-winning quality. The late flurry of four unanswered tries is a reminder of the bench and conditioning factors that separate top international sides from provincial outfits.
For the Lions, the performance will be a mixture of pride and frustration. They dominated large periods, built a substantial lead and threatened history by pushing New Zealand close. Yet their inability to close out the game — arguably linked to seasonal rustiness — will sting, particularly given how the result might have lifted provincial rugby confidence against touring All Blacks.
- All Blacks remain unbeaten on the South African tour.
- Ellis Park hosted two high-profile results for New Zealand: the Test win over the Springboks and this narrow provincial victory.
- Squad rotation and impact players, including debutant Saula Ma'u, played a part in the comeback.
Attention now turns to the remainder of New Zealand’s tour and how South African provincial and national sides respond. The Lions will rue missed opportunities but can take heart from a performance that exposed weaknesses in the visitors early on. For neutral fans at Ellis Park the contest delivered drama: a provincial giant pushed the All Blacks to the limit before New Zealand’s experience and depth ultimately decided the outcome.
The wider narrative — an All Blacks side that can win both Test matches and grind out come-from-behind wins against provincial outfits — carries weight as the tour continues and the Springboks prepare for the remaining Tests in the series.
