South Africa secured an unassailable 2-1 series lead over New Zealand with a 29-24 victory in the third Test in Johannesburg, courtesy of decisive second-half tries from Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx. The win ensures the Springboks cannot lose the series, reaffirming their status as the standard bearers in world rugby.
Springboks' Power Unrivalled
The All Blacks' panache took them mightily close, but South Africa's power proved unrivalled. A second-half masterclass from the Boks, the kind that leaves even opponents as worthy as the All Blacks floundering, confirms what has been apparent for some time – South Africa remain the red-hot favourites for next year's World Cup.
There is a fourth Test next week in Baltimore, but the reality is it is a money-spinning appendage to the three matches in South Africa. The Springboks lost the first but have roared back on home soil, taking a 2-1 lead in the series and are unofficial winners of the best-of-three contest in South Africa.
All Blacks' Early Dominance
The All Blacks showed their class for much of this contest, which ultimately hinged on Kriel's decisive second-half score, just after Will Jordan had struck for New Zealand. From that moment on, South Africa smelled blood and capitalised with the ruthless streak that has crowned them consecutive World Cup winners.
The All Blacks are evidently their closest challengers and will rue losing Ardie Savea to injury late in the first half. It is no excuse, however, not least because Cheslin Kolbe lasted all of 10 minutes before going off in another Test match of remarkable intensity.
A breathless first half began with a statement of intent by the All Blacks. First the Springboks' maul was stopped in its tracks, then South Africa's bulldozing No 8 Jasper Wiese was knocked back in the tackle. A mesmerising run up the middle by Jordan demonstrated the All Blacks had come to play too, and the Springboks were rattled when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.
Momentum Swings
From the resulting lineout move, Savea had space to pounce for the opening try, and to compound matters for South Africa, Kolbe had been taken off with a head injury. South Africa's foothold came from set-piece superiority, however, and shortly after Feinberg-Mngomezulu's return, Kurt-Lee Arendse was over on the right after an outside break by Damian de Allende.
The All Blacks were at this point struggling at the breakdown, certainly in the eyes of the referee Nika Amashukeli, but have showcased throughout this tour an ability to strike on the counter like no other side in the world game. Again Savea was the beneficiary on their second try, which owed much to some nifty footwork from Tupou Vaa'i but perhaps more than that, New Zealand's collective superior skill level.
For the third week in a row South Africa finished the first half the stronger, and the All Blacks were dealt an almighty blow when Savea was taken off in clear discomfort. Manie Libbok proceeded to go close after an astonishing pickup by Ox Nché, but Ruben Love had infringed on his own line and became the second fly-half to be shown a yellow card. A dominant Springboks scrum yielded a penalty try and parity at 12-12 at the break.
Second-Half Decisive Scores
The second half took a while to ignite but Love's missed penalty lit the touch paper. Jordan started and finished the All Blacks' third try with a fine chip through to Leroy Carter, who popped the ball up off the floor to his fellow winger. Almost immediately, however, the Boks were back ahead when Kriel slipped past Carter far too easily and sped to the line.
It was sloppy by Carter, and the same can be said of Jordan, whose overhit kick led to a Springboks scrum. The inevitable penalty was kicked to the corner, and a ferocious rumble by South Africa was finished off by the irrepressible Malcolm Marx.
A Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty pushed South Africa's lead to 12 with 10 minutes to play, and though the All Blacks had finished the stronger in both previous Tests, they could only muster a pushover score by Samisoni Taukei'aho with the clock well into the red.
