AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: The All Blacks preserved their sacred 31-year unbeaten record at Eden Park on Saturday, 6 September, withstanding a spirited Springbok comeback to claim a 24-17 victory in a pulsating Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter played in treacherous wet conditions.
Two tries conceded by South Africa in the opening 17 minutes ultimately proved the difference in another fierce contest at Auckland’s fortress, where New Zealand has not tasted defeat since 1994. Despite the Springboks dominating the final hour 17-10, their disastrous start left them with too much ground to make up against the hosts.
Lightning start seals All Black victory
The match was effectively decided in a devastating first quarter where New Zealand capitalised ruthlessly on early Springbok errors. The visitors became their own worst enemies with dropped passes and a misfiring lineout allowing the All Blacks to establish a commanding 14-0 advantage.
The opening try came within minutes when a dropped pass in the Springbok midfield gifted New Zealand lineout possession. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett’s pinpoint cross-field kick found wing Emoni Narawa isolated against fullback Willie le Roux. Narawa’s spectacular diving catch saw him slide under Le Roux’s tackle attempt before regaining his feet to score untouched from 20 metres.
Jordie Barrett’s conversion was followed 15 minutes later by a second well-worked score from lineout possession. The throw over the top found Wallace Sititi at the back of the lineout, whose inside pass released fullback Will Jordan to brush through Malcolm Marx’s tackle and score to the right of the posts.
Springboks fight back too late
Handré Pollard’s long-range penalty from close to 50 metres provided South Africa’s only first-half response as handling errors continued to plague their attack in the wet conditions. Their one consistent bright spot was a dominant scrum that forced two penalties, though they were unable to convert territorial advantage into points.
The second half began promisingly for the visitors when prop Ox Nché was held up over the line within a minute of the restart after disrupting an All Black lineout on their own five-metre line. However, it was New Zealand who struck first through a Damian McKenzie penalty after Pieter-Steph du Toit was penalised for playing the scrumhalf.
Bench sparks Springbok resurgence
The introduction of the Springbok reserves provided the catalyst for their best period in the third quarter. A monstrous scrum drove the All Blacks off their own ball, allowing Kwagga Smith to drive close to the line before Marx picked and drove over from close range to reduce the deficit to seven points at 17-10.
However, that proved to be the visitors’ high-water mark. Penalised at the restart, the All Blacks took a penalty to the corner and although their initial maul was repelled, Smith’s yellow card for cynical play proved costly. With a numerical advantage, replacement Quinn Tupaea exploited an over-extended defence to score near the posts, McKenzie’s conversion reopening the lead to 14 points with 13 minutes remaining.
Dramatic final quarter
The Springboks refused to surrender, with replacement scrumhalf Cobus Reinach scoring with seven minutes remaining to throw the match back into the melting pot. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion set up a grandstand finish at 24-17.
Despite securing field position to threaten the All Black line in the dying minutes, the Springboks were denied by two crucial turnovers at the ruck that sealed another victory for the hosts at their impregnable fortress.
Looking ahead
The victory maintains New Zealand’s perfect record at their Auckland stronghold while providing valuable momentum in the Rugby Championship campaign. For South Africa, the performance will offer both encouragement from their second-half showing and concern about their slow starts against elite opposition.
Both teams demonstrated why they remain leading contenders on the world stage, setting up intriguing future encounters as the international season progresses.
Final score
New Zealand 24 (Half-time: 14)
Tries: Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea
Conversions: Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie (2)
Penalty: McKenzie
South Africa 17 (Half-time: 3)
Tries: Malcolm Marx, Cobus Reinach
Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2)
Penalty: Handré Pollard
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