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:
FULL TIME! South Africa 23-35 New Zealand
Sam Cane: “Adversity is a test of character and there was no doubt of ours. It was a massive challenge coming here and the group turned up massively.
“We were a lot better at the breakdown tonight. The set piece was good. There were lots of good bits to our game.”
FULL TIME! South Africa 23-35 New Zealand
Ardie Savea: “The last few weeks we’ve had as a team have been really difficult, but we’ve come to one of the best stadiums in the world and got a huge result.
“It confirms the belief we have in each other. We might still have doubters back home We are hugely proud of tonight.”
FULL TIME! South Africa 23-35 New Zealand
Mo’unga adds two more points, to take away the losing bonus point from South Africa, but more importantly, deliver a huge victory for the All Blacks.
They raced into a 15-point lead before the Springboks stormed back, only for a huge statement of character from New Zealand to claim a gutsy win with their backs against the wall.
That was intense!
TRY! South Africa 23-33 New Zealand (S BARRETT 79)
GAME OVER
Scott Barrett emerges from the pile of bodies on the goalline and New Zealand will be bouncing back with a famous win!
South Africa 23-28 New Zealand
78 mins: Barrett is back on and pins a brilliant kick into the corner, forcing Le Roux to kick into touch five metres out!
This has been an emphatic response from the All Blacks.
South Africa 23-28 New Zealand
75 mins: Mo’unga makes it a five-point game for the 14-men All Blacks!
TRY! South Africa 23-26 New Zealand (HAVILI 73’)
STUNNING!
What a break from the All Blacks! It came from Ioane but was then carried on by Savea. New Zealand got the penalty advantage five metres out and David Havili shows unbelievable composure at the line to touch the ball down, almost faking the handoff to the outside!
South Africa 23-21 New Zealand
72 mins: South Africa kicked for touch and then Hendrikse looked for further ground with the box kick. Jordan does well to collect ahead of Mapimpi, and then Ioane takes off down the left wing to get New Zealand on the attack once more!
South Africa 23-21 New Zealand
70 mins: New Zealand gained ground but then their lineout was not straight, South Africa opt for the scrum.
South Africa 23-21 New Zealand (POLLARD pen 68’)
South Africa take the lead for the first time!
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