South Africa produced a controlled, physical second half to beat New Zealand 29-24 in Johannesburg on Saturday and move 2-1 ahead in the four-Test series.
Second-half surge seals Pretoria-style result
The match turned decisively after the interval, when the Springboks tightened their defence, won the collisions and capitalised on All Blacks errors. Two second-half touchdowns — one from centre Jesse Kriel and a forward finish from hooker Malcolm Marx — proved decisive as the home side overturned a first-half deficit to take the match and the series advantage.
South Africa’s scoreline was built on a blend of set-piece dominance and territorial kicking, with a penalty and some accurate goal-kicking helping keep the scoreboard ticking. New Zealand threatened throughout and scored four tries, including two by captain Ardie Savea, but it was not enough to overcome the Springboks’ physical intensity after the break.
"That (bad weather) will not affect how we play," AFP quoted New Zealand captain Ardie Savea as saying ahead of the Test.
The match featured moments of consequence beyond the scoring plays. Springbok centre/utility Feinberg‑Mngomezulu spent 10 minutes in the sin bin, a spell that tested South Africa’s defensive structures but ultimately did not cost them the contest. Tighthead Ox Nché also played a significant portion of the match — his heavy lifting in the engine room for about 56 minutes drawing specific praise in reports of the game.
Key contributors and match flow
Neither side shirked the contest. The All Blacks' attacking threat remained evident — with tries from Savea (two), Jordan and Taukei’aho — but the Springboks’ forward platform and clinical finishing in the second half made the difference. The home side’s backs and forwards combined effectively to manufacture scoring chances and to slow New Zealand’s ball at key moments.
- Score: South Africa 29, New Zealand 24
- Decisive tries: Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx (second half)
- Notable All Blacks scorers: Ardie Savea (2), Jordan, Taukei’aho
Substitutions and tactical changes were used by both coaches as the match ebbed and flowed. Reports list a number of replacements across both sides, with the Springboks rotating forwards and backs to maintain intensity, and New Zealand responding with fresh legs in an attempt to shift momentum late on.
| Springboks | All Blacks |
|---|---|
| Tries: Arendse, Kriel, Marx | Tries: Savea (2), Jordan, Taukei’aho |
| Sin bin: Feinberg‑Mngomezulu (10 mins) | — |
What this means for the series and beyond
By taking a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series, South Africa have put themselves in control going into the final weekend of rugby. The result will buoy the Springboks’ confidence as they continue to fine-tune combinations and game plans ahead of next year’s global tournament — and it piles pressure on New Zealand, who must now respond to avoid a series defeat on South African soil.
There is still one Test remaining in South Africa before the tour concludes. While the All Blacks have shown they can score freely and threaten the line, the series now pivots on whether they can find a way to contain the Springboks’ forward momentum and overturn a home advantage that has so far paid dividends for the hosts.
The Johannesburg Test was another chapter in this storied rivalry — a fixture that remains as much about temperament and forward battle as it is about flair. The Springboks’ second-half performance gave them the edge on the scoreboard and the psychological upper hand heading into the series finale.
Match reports and team lists from the game provided the details of scorers, substitutions and disciplinary moments that shaped the outcome. The two sides now head into the concluding fixtures having traded blows in a contest that once again underlined the intensity and quality of Southern Hemisphere Test rugby.
