New Zealand claimed sweet revenge for last week’s defeat to the Springboks by winning 35-23 in a pulsating Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg.
It looked as though they were heading for their fourth successive Test defeat when they went behind in the final quarter, having earlier led 15-0 and 21-13. But two late tries earned them the spoils in front of 62,000 fans at Ellis Park to ease the pressure on coach Ian Foster.
The All Blacks enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half and were much more potent with ball-in-hand than in Nelspruit last week, bringing both directness and a clinical edge. That saw them move into a 15-0 lead thanks to tries from skipper Sam Cane and hooker Samasoni Taukei’aho, with the score for flanker Cane particularly well-worked.
But South Africa hit back just before the interval. Centre Lukhanyo Am, playing out on the wing due to an early head injury to Jesse Kriel, produced a powerful finish, with fly-half Handre Pollard then landing two testing shots at goal to cut the half-time deficit to 15-10.
Pollard and his opposite number Richie Mo’unga traded penalties after the break ahead of Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi crossing on the hour mark, just minutes after having a score created by the outstanding Am chalked off for obstruction.
That left the All Blacks with a narrow 21-20 lead moving into the final quarter and then came a big moment when replacement Beauden Barrett was yellow carded for taking scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse out off the ball, with Pollard slotting the resultant penalty to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match.
But, despite being down to 14 men, the Kiwis went back in front with a try from centre David Havili with six minutes to go and then sealed their victory when lock Scott Barrett touched down in the final play.
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