Rugby Championship Update: South Africa Triumphs over New Zealand with 31-27 Win
In a thrilling Rugby Championship showdown, Ellis Park experienced the electrifying excitement of a surprising comeback when South Africa clinched victory from New Zealand with a 31-27 scoreline. The encounter nearly rivalled the fervour of the previous year’s World Cup finale.
South Africa turned the tables despite the All Blacks having dominated the try count, four to three. The fresh Springbok fly-half, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, stole the spotlight, driving home 16 points with his timely boots. This stunning game rekindles the memories of their previous battle in Paris, where South Africa had a marginal win (12-11).
The try scorers for the home side included Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu punctuating their efforts with successful penalties and conversions, totalling six. New Zealand’s Caleb Clarke scored twice, with Codie Taylor and Jordie Barrett also getting a try each while Damian McKenzie managed a penalty and two conversions. All of this saw South Africa trailing 27-17 with no more than 11 minutes remaining but they managed to channel their forward thrust to stage a last-minute triumph.
South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, conveyed their resilience by stating that they’ve been in a disadvantageous position before but their experience and mental toughness prevented them from succumbing to pressure. The tide turned in the 68th minute with Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s yellow card, which was followed by Smith’s sustained attack culminating in a try, and finally Williams’ 75th-minute try ensuring their victory.
New Zealand made an early impression with a try in the opening seventh minute due to steady pressure from the kickoff. However, there was a stroke of luck when South Africa’s first try in the 17th minute, courtesy of Mbonambi, was allowed to stand despite TV replays showing that he lost possession while crossing the line. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had filled in for World Cup star Handre Pollard, thence secured the lead for South Africa by nailing a penalty from his half, proving the highveld’s thin air to be a valuable ally.
Drawing on an error from the home team, the All Blacks utilised this momentum to secure a try, credited to Clarke, at the thirty-third minute mark. With a half-time lead of 12-11, they grew their advantage to 22-17 just two minutes after the break as Jordie Barrett intercepted a play, leaving the crowd speechless. Following an exchange of penalties, a brilliantly executed burst from Clarke elevated the All Blacks even further. The situation appeared bleak for the home team, however, the might of their forwards ignited a stunning turnaround, putting immense pressure on the All Blacks. South Africa is set to welcome New Zealand for another encounter in Cape Town the following Saturday, as reported by Reuters.