JOHANNESBURG (AP) — New Zealand stunned South Africa 33-16 with an epic second-half fightback at Ellis Park on Saturday and drew first blood in their historic four-test series.
After surviving a ferocious first half to trail only 13-12, the All Blacks’ resolve hardened by new coach Dave Rennie and age-old ability to produce something from nothing turned a tense contest into a rout by five tries to South Africa’s one.
An All Blacks scrum that was blown away in the first half eventually held firm in the second half and was the platform for their two last converted tries in the last quarter that gave them their biggest win in South Africa’s cathedral of rugby.
“We were under the pump for a big chunk of that game,” Rennie said. “That (defensive) mindset was important, then we were clinical. The set-piece was massive in the end, the scrum came good and was a big part of our success.”
South Africa paid for failing to take its many chances when it had New Zealand on the ropes in the first half. To a crashing halt came South Africa’s 12-test winning streak that began 11 months ago by handing New Zealand its heaviest ever defeat, 43-10, in Wellington.
The Springboks’ scrum was better than advertised until props Ox Nché and Wilco Louw were substituted. An overconfidence in the set-piece made South Africa waive off numerous kickable penalties at altitude to try and bury the All Blacks with tries. But a backline that struggled to string any passes was easily corralled, and asked too much of the likes of forwards Jasper Wiese, Malcolm Marx and Paul de Villiers.
When New Zealand returned the pressure in the second half, South Africa gave away two yellow cards in the span of a minute and finished with 13 men. The tension in a packed Ellis Park deflated in the last 10 minutes as Springbok supporters realized a comeback wasn’t possible.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Boks captain Pieter-Steph du Toit said. “Unfortunately, in a game like this, small errors count.”
The series moves to sea level in Cape Town next Saturday and New Zealand is the surprising front-runner in the first full series between the teams in 30 years.
New front row stops slide
The turning point was just before the hour. Cheslin Kolbe had converted another Boks scrum penalty into a 16-12 lead but, from the restart, New Zealand lock Fabian Holland charged down scrumhalf Grant Williams for a converted try and 19-16.
Two more scrum penalties pinned New Zealand in its 22 and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was held up over the tryline. The Boks had a five-meter attacking scrum but, for the first time in the match, they were penalized for wheeling against New Zealand’s replacement front row of George Bower, Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell.
“The reserve front row that came on, I think we probably owe them a beer,” All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard said. ”We got a lot of energy from that.”
Fullback Damian McKenzie made a huge run from his half and Roigard barely missed the bouncing ball in goal. The attack cost South Africa an injury to Kolbe and exposed the limits of its 6-2 bench split with Williams going to the wing.
Given a five-meter attacking scrum, New Zealand was steadfast and flanker Luke Jacobson scored by blasting through du Toit. Ruben Love’s third conversion made it 28-16 with a quarter to go.
Carley in control
English referee Matthew Carley, who had previously overseen South Africa win three of these matchups, frequently over-ruled TMO Mike Adamson. One big call was to yellow card Marco van Staden for cynical play on his tryline, superseding a high tackle by New Zealand captain Ardie Savea on Wiese.
Van Staden was joined in the sin-bin in the next minute by Cobus Reinach for a deliberate knock-on. New Zealand, on attack, ironically chose to scrum and Savea’s high miss-out pass gave unmarked winger Will Jordan the last try and his second of the match.
Carley had a firm hand from the start.
New Zealand’s Codie Taylor teed up the first penalty by Kolbe but South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth’s high tackle put New Zealand on attack. Roigard and Jordan, playing their first match on tour, combined to score beside the right corner flag.
The points came quick. Hybrid André Esterhuizen, just arrived to replace Kurt-Lee Arendse, touched down and South Africa led 10-5.
Trampled by Esterhuizen, winger Josh Moorby in his first test against South Africa supported a touchline break by Tupou Vaa’i to score and New Zealand led for a second time at 12-10.
But the rest of the second quarter was South Africa’s and New Zealand somehow conceded only a second Kolbe penalty and not 10 points, at least.
Jordie Barrett knocked the ball from the grasp of Malcolm Marx as he was driving over the line. The effort to stem the Springboks cost New Zealand forwards Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, who suffered head injuries trying to tackle Wiese.
They reached halftime hanging on, barely.
