South Africa vs New Zealand LIVE rugby: Result and final score as All Blacks hold off Springboks in thriller
South Africa 23-35 New Zealand: With their backs against the wall after recent results, the All Blacks held off a thrilling comeback from the Springboks in Johannesburg to claim a vital win
Centre David Havili and lock Scott Barrett scored late tries as New Zealand eased the pressure on coach Ian Foster with a superb 35-23 victory over South Africa in their Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Captain Sam Cane and hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho also scored tries as the All Blacks silenced the 61,519 crowd to claim what will be viewed as a famous win having lost five of their previous six tests.
The Springboks were not as clinical as they had been in the 26-10 victory over the visitors the previous week as they scored tries through sublime centre Lukhanyo Am and winger Makazole Mapimpi, but faced opponents who were vastly improved.
Whether the victory is enough to save Foster’s job will become clear in the coming days, as New Zealand prepare to host Argentina in their next Rugby Championship clash on Aug. 27, while the Boks travel to play Australia on the same day.
Relive the action from a thrilling Rugby Championship clash, below:
YELLOW CARD! South Africa 20-21 New Zealand
Beauden Barrett is into the sin bin and Pollard has a penalty close to goal!
South Africa 20-21 New Zealand
65 mins: Le Roux’s kick gets South Africa up to halfway, Am makes another charging run on the right, before South Africa find Mapimpi in space on the right!
But there’s a huge turnover from New Zealand, however, South Africa get it back as the All Blacks spill the ball.
It dropped to Jaden Hendrikse and he kicked it on, only to be taken out by Beauden Barrett...
South Africa 20-21 New Zealand
62 mins: Etzebeth is down with an injury, which gives us all a moment to catch our breath. What a match this has been and we are set for a thrilling conclusion.
The noise in the stadium is special.
South Africa 20-21 New Zealand
61 mins: And another stunning kick from Pollard.
TRY! South Africa 18-21 New Zealand (MAPIMPI)
THIS ONE COUNTS!
Extraordinary from the Springbok wing, he is unstoppable! South Africa work it wide and once they got the ball in his hands, there was nothing the All Blacks could do!
South Africa 13-21 New Zealand (MO’UNGA pen)
Huge turning point. An eight-point swing and New Zealand lead by that margin.
NO TRY! South Africa 13-18 New Zealand
DENIED!
Pearce rules that there was obstruction from Hendrikse that helped/allowed Am to find the gap to burst clear.
And instead, New Zealand will have a penalty inside the South Africa half!
TRY! South Africa 18-18 New Zealand
UNBELIEVABLE!
Lukhanyo Am are you kidding?! The Springbok runs the length of the field, spinning through tackles, before launching a wide pass out to Mapimpi for the try.
But wait... this is being checked...
South Africa 13-18 New Zealand
56 mins: Brilliant defence from New Zealand! Marx found Mostert again from the line-out and then Jaden Hendrikse switched play to the right. Willemse and Pollard had runs up the middle but New Zealand stood strong and then found the turnover!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments