South Africa defeats New Zealand in third Test to secure series lead

There have been moments over the past couple of weeks that have made us question South Africa’s status as the standard bearers in world rugby. After this helter-skelter third Test victory that ensures they cannot lose the series, we have an emphatic answer. The Springboks’ power is unrivalled. The All Blacks’ panache has taken them mightily close but South Africa remain on their perch.

A consolation score for New Zealand at the death rescued some pride but flattered the All Blacks – and afterwards it was confirmed that their captain Ardie Savea will miss the final Test. A second-half masterclass from the Boks, the relentless kind that leaves even opponents as worthy as these suffocated, gasping for air, confirms what was taken as read before this series started – South Africa remain the 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. They take a 2-1 lead in the series and are unofficial winners of the best-of-three contest in South Africa. The All Blacks have failed in their quest to emulate the class of 1996.

No individual performance was more significant than their collective ability to put on the squeeze but Ox Nché’s 56 minutes at the coalface were exceptional and it is no coincidence that Siya Kolisi, who now has more Test wins than any other Springboks captain, sat out the one Test South Africa have lost this series.

The All Blacks showed their class for much of this contest, which hinged on Jesse 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 matched the Boks’ four tries with four of their own. They possess a remarkable running game but eventually South African power has caught up with them. They will rue losing Savea to a shoulder injury late in the first half – “He won’t travel now,” said head coach Dave Rennie of the captain’s chances of making the Baltimore Test – and some key mistakes after the interval. Perhaps Ruben Love’s two missed kicks at goal too. Savea’s early withdrawal was certainly a setback but it is no excuse, not least because Cheslin Kolbe lasted all of 10 minutes before going off in another Test match of remarkable intensity. South Africa’s head coach Rassie Erasmus later revealed Kolbe had broken his jaw.

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.

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 the set-piece superiority, however, and shortly after Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s return, Kurt-Lee Arendse was over on the right.

The All Blacks were at this point struggling at the breakdown but have showcased throughout this tour an ability to strike on the counter. Again Savea was the beneficiary for their second try which owed much to some nifty footwork from Tupou Vaa’i and plenty to their innate ability to stay patient and keep the ball alive.

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 Nché but 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.

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 responded when Kriel slipped past Carter far too easily and sped to the line. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted whereas Love had missed his effort to nose South Africa ahead.

It was sloppy by Carter and the same can be said of Jordan, when his 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.