New Zealand vs South Africa live: Springboks dismantle All Blacks in record-breaking Rugby Championship win
New Zealand 10-43 South Africa: The world champions made a statement with a record thrashing of the All Blacks in Wellington
South Africa humiliated New Zealand and condemned the All Blacks to their heaviest ever defeat.
After New Zealand held on for victory to extend their unbeaten streak at Eden Park last weekend, the Springboks scored 43 points in a sensational six-try victory to revive their Rugby Championship title hopes in Wellington.
It was South Africa’s biggest ever score on New Zealand soil, while the 33-point margin of defeat was the biggest New Zealand had suffered in their entire history.
South Africa only led by three points at half time but were sensational in the second half, with tries from Cheslin Kolbe, Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen.
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All Blacks suffer heaviest-ever defeat as Springboks dismantle New Zealand
The All Blacks have suffered their heaviest-ever defeat as South Africa ran rampant in a 43-10 dismantling in the Rugby Championship.
The Springboks hit back in some style having been edged out at Eden Park a week ago, producing 36 unanswered second-half points to power out of sight in a statement showing from the world champions.
In the process, the records tumbled, with a 33-point margin of victory surpassing the previous worst result in New Zealand’s history - exceeding their own 35-7 win in a World Cup warm-up at Twickenham in 2023.
All Blacks suffer heaviest ever defeat as Springboks dismantle New Zealand
Black Ferns survive scare to progress past South Africa
Well that was rather more hard-fought than anyone expected - the Black Ferns are through to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup with a 46-17 win over the Women’s Springboks in Exeter, but what a performance that was from South Africa, who leave this tournament with their heads held high.
It’ll be Canada or Australia next up for the defending champions.
Springboks Women holding their own
What is happening in Exeter? South Africa’s women, World Cup quarter-finalists for the first time, are giving the six-time champion Black Ferns everything, level at 10-apiece at the half-time interval - remarkable!
The other New Zealand vs South Africa clash
There is, of course, a second New Zealand vs South Africa clash today - and the Women’s Springboks, huge underdogs in their World Cup quarter-final, have made a really strong start against the world champion Black Ferns. It’s 0-0 in Exeter but the South African side have come close to scoring on a couple of occasions, with their maul doing plenty of damage.
Scott Barrett urges New Zealand to channel 'discomfort' to bounce back
New Zealand captain Scott Barrett called on the All Blacks players to use the "discomfort" of their record 43-10 defeat to South Africa as fuel to regroup ahead of their next Rugby Championship clash against Australia at Eden Park.
A week after beating the Springboks 24-17 at Eden Park, the home side crashed to their worst-ever Test loss on Saturday as the visitors piled on 36 unanswered points at Wellington Regional Stadium.
Lock Barrett, part of a forward pack that was well beaten on the night, said the sting of the defeat would not fade quickly over the two weeks before meeting the Wallabies.
"There’ll be some real discomfort this week," he told reporters.
"But I’m sure this team will use that to bounce forward. We’ve got the Bledisloe ahead and a chance to respond."
All Blacks hit new low
Here are the five biggest Test defeats suffered by the All Blacks in history:
SOUTH AFRICA 43-10 NEW ZEALAND (WELLINGTON, SEPTEMBER 13, 2025)
Margin: 33 points
Cheslin Kolbe scored a brace of tries as South Africa ran riot in the second half. The Springboks trailed 10-0 after an early try to debutant Leroy Carter but scored 36 unanswered points in an extraordinary onslaught.
SOUTH AFRICA 35-7 NEW ZEALAND (LONDON, AUGUST 25, 2023)
Margin: 28 points
South Africa put in a masterclass of forward power to thrash New Zealand. They scored five tries through captain Siya Kolisi, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, hookers Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi and flanker Kwagga Smith.
AUSTRALIA 47-26 NEW ZEALAND (PERTH, AUGUST 10, 2019)
Margin: 21 points
New Zealand forward Scott Barrett was sent off for a reckless tackle just before halftime, and Australia's Reece Hodge scored a brace of tries in the Wallabies' biggest win over the All Blacks.
SOUTH AFRICA 17-0 NEW ZEALAND (DURBAN, JUNE 30, 1928)
Margin: 17 points
An inexperienced All Blacks side, with all but two players making their full test debuts, suffered a 17-point loss in their first test of the 1928 tour of South Africa. The loss in Durban stood as New Zealand's worst defeat for decades.
ENGLAND 38-21 NEW ZEALAND (LONDON, DECEMBER 1, 2012)
Martin: 17 points
England ended the world champions' 20-game unbeaten run as Owen Farrell's heroics put the hosts 15-0 ahead. New Zealand fought back through Julian Savea and Kieran Read, but tries by Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Manu Tuilagi ensured England's victory.
Siya Kolisi lifts the Freedom Cup
It is a split series, of course, with New Zealand victorious last week, but that is enough for holders South Africa to hold on to the Freedom Cup - which Siya Kolisi lifts alongside the rest of the Springboks squad after a statement performance.
And here's Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi
“I’d like to thank all the South Africans who came to support us, from all over the world,” Kolisi says. “You didn’t give up on us last week, you came through this weekend. I want to give credit to my boys, we didn’t give up, and to the coach as well - everyone was talking about a young team, but how do you get young guys experience? you give them opportunities.
“We played fearlessly. We believed in ourselves, which was the most important thing out there. All we wanted was a win, and we are happy that we got that. We are able to fight for the Rugby Championship - that is all that matters to us. The people in Wellington and Auckland have been amazing.”
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett reacts to New Zealand's record defeat
“That’s a tough one to swallow. The Springboks certainly showed up and made a real improvement from last week, and we certainmly didn’t adjust. Well done to Siya and his team.
“Our scrum was under pressure,.We had limited opportunities and the ‘Boks really took theirs.
“The fans over the past two weeks have been amazing. We are gutted we couldn’t quite the job done tonight. It’s not all bad, we’ll celebrate Leroy [Carter’s] debut. We’ll have a bit of space, there are a lot of areas where we can get better, but it starts individually. Each member of this group is hungry to get better.”
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