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:
NO TRY! South Africa 13-18 New Zealand
South Africa thought they were level, but no! Willemse is again at the centre of the threat, but he is just forced out by Clarke as he looked to offload inside!
The play comes back and South Africa go for the other corner...
South Africa 13 -18 New Zealand
50 mins: But then it swings back! Whitelock gives away a penalty and gives Pollard the chance to find the corner... which he does. Another chance for South Africa.
South Africa 13 -18 New Zealand (MO’UNGA pen 48’)
Richie Mo’unga stretches New Zealand’s lead back up to five points. Could be a big turning point, that Wiese penalty.
South Africa 13 -15 New Zealand
47 mins: It all gets rather heated as Jasper Wiese crashes into Aaron Smith after the whistle. It was South Africa who had the penalty - but that is then overturned! Wiese didn’t hear the whistle.
South Africa 13 -15 New Zealand (Pollard pen 45’)
And then it was two. Pollard makes it 14 consecutive kicks made as he converts from under the posts.
South Africa 10-15 New Zealand
43 mins: Pollard got South Africa down to just outside the New Zealand 22. Willemse charges down the inside but South Africa need Du Toit to keep the play alive.
It’s worked back to Willemse, who finds a line down the left after Damian de Allende took it up the middle. But Willemse is stopped, and it comes back for a South Africa penalty.
South Africa 10-15 New Zealand
42 mins: Mapimpi finds some space and opens his legs down the left side, but Pearce brings the play back for a penalty following a lineout. Pollard kicks for touch.
South Africa 10-15 New Zealand
The sun has set in Johannesburg but the atmosphere is about to go up another level as the Springboks try to chase down New Zealand.
Overturning a 15-point deficit against the All Blacks seems unthinkable, but the Springboks will be full out belief.
Back underway shortly.
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