Rugby fans have been left shocked by a low-level flyover from two planes ahead of the second Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town.
Two custom-painted Embraer planes – one painted black and the other green for the two competing nations – completed the flyover in the minutes before kickoff as a ring of fireworks and smoke bombs erupted around the roof.
Two planes flew only metres above the stadium roof ahead of the second Test between the Springbok and All Blacks. Getty Images
But the planes were flying so low it appeared the fireworks struck at least one of the planes directly. The wake from the wings could clearly be seen in the smoke.
The spectacular flyover divided fans. Some praised the skills of the pilots, while others pointed out the display was a poor-timed gust of wind away from an unimaginable disaster.
The pilot of the front plane in particular looked as if they had to pull up to avoid hitting the roof of the stadium.
The two planes are operated by Airlink, a South African domestic airline that has been ferrying the two teams around the country throughout the tour.
“I love Airlink but I think the (South African Civil Aviation Authority) might be calling the captain for a little chat,” one comment read on an Instagram post.
“Never thought a pilot would be the one to end the greatest rivalry in rugby,” another said on an All Black’s post.
In the match, the All Blacks scored four tries to three, only to lose 33-26 thanks to a goalkicking masterclass by Cheslin Kolbe, who kicked seven from seven from the tee.
South Africa lost the first test in Johannesburg, but haven’t lost consecutive Tests at home since Rassie Erasmus took over as coach in 2018. The four-Test series is now level at 1-1.
It was All Black’s coach Dave Rennie’s first loss since he took over.
“It’s his first loss (as All Blacks coach) … and he’ll feel what we felt this week,” Erasmus said.
The Springboks scored all three of their tries in the first half to build a pressure-inducing 24-14 lead by halftime.
Returning skipper Siya Kolisi said they paid last week for not taking their chances: “This week we did, and we also brought the fire.”
Kolbe converted the tries plus four penalties to keep his side in control on the scoreboard. Kolbe was named the player of the match. He has made all 11 of his shots at the posts in the series.
The scrum was the decisive battleground in the first test in Johannesburg and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus tried to fix that by swapping his entire front rows at the last minute. Hooker Deon Fourie didn’t have to wait to become the oldest Springbok test player a month before his 40th birthday.
Cheslin Kolbe continued his perfect kicking form. Getty Images
But New Zealand’s scrum generally held firm.
It was the lineouts where the All Blacks malfunctioned at critical moments. Three attacking throw-ins by the All Blacks were spoiled by Eben Etzebeth, who made one steal. South Africa’s first two tries were platformed by lineout mauls.
“South Africa were good tonight, really physical. They stopped a lot of our momentum,” New Zealand coach Dave Rennie told broadcaster SuperSport. “We’re confident we can bounce back.”
The teams return to Johannesburg for the third test next Sunday (AEST) at 87,000-seat Soccer City.
The All Blacks came into the match perfect under new coach Rennie after wins in four tests and four matches against South African franchises, but they were set back in Cape Town after just 102 seconds.
South Africa mauled a lineout for 15 meters into the New Zealand 22 and Fourie, Jasper Wiese and Kolisi crashed up and centre Jesse Kriel crashed over beside the posts.
From a midfield lineout, quick hands by New Zealand released winger Will Jordan, who slipped tackles by Kriel and Damian de Allende and put scrumhalf Cam Roigard in.
An offside penalty was slotted by Kolbe, who also converted a try by de Allende that began from another 15m lineout maul, and South Africa led 17-7.
New Zealand skipper Ardie Savea broke off the back of a lineout that led to fullback Damian McKenzie angling untouched into the right corner and the gap was back to three again after 30 minutes.
Kolbe made up for a shanked line kick when he chased a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chip and forced a 5m scrum in the 36th.
Erasmus immediately replaced Fourie and loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp with Malcolm Marx, the 2025 world player of the year, and Ox Nché, playing his 50th test. Quick pick-and-goes saw Kolisi bust through to help his side lead 24-14 into halftime.
After the break, New Zealand gave away penalties, including two turnovers by Marx, and Kolbe kicked South Africa 30-14 ahead with 30 minutes to go.
It took New Zealand nearly 20 minutes to reply when winger Leroy Carter darted in. Savea’s 33rd Test try and Love’s extras gave New Zealand a sniff, boosted by a yellow card to South Africa lock Lood de Jager.
But in the final attack after the fulltime hooter, Jordan was overturned by South Africa’s Cameron Hanekom.
