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South Africa beats New Zealand 33-26 to tie series 1-1

8/30/2026

20 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

South Africa Beats NZ

South Africa beat New Zealand 33-26 in Cape Town, tying the four-test series 1-1.
Captain Siya Kolisi returned from injury and scored a try that gave South Africa a 24-14 halftime lead.
Coach Rassie Erasmus reshuffled the entire front row an hour before kickoff, starting Steenekamp, Fourie and du Toit.
Pieter-Steph du Toit reached 100 caps while Ox Nché marked his 50th appearance.
Lood de Jager was shown a yellow card in the 79th minute.

Summary

SA Rugby Sues

SA Rugby announced it will pursue legal action against unauthorised travel agencies over ticket disputes.
Fans said they bought packages through unofficial channels but received no tickets for the Cape Town Test.
The agencies blamed SA Rugby for the failures, a claim the union called completely untrue.
SA Rugby warned agencies future ticket sales could be blocked if illegal practices continue.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 Rugby World Cup, South Africa’s first major post-apartheid event, ended with Nelson Mandela handing the Webb Ellis Cup to captain François Pienaar after a 15-12 extra-time victory over New Zealand. That iconic moment boosted ticket demand, and today SA Rugby’s legal actions against unauthorised sellers reflect the same commercial pressures that once lifted the sport’s profile.

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South Africa Beats NZ

South Africa beat New Zealand 33-26 in Cape Town, tying the four-test series 1-1.
Captain Siya Kolisi returned from injury and scored a try that gave South Africa a 24-14 halftime lead.
Coach Rassie Erasmus reshuffled the entire front row an hour before kickoff, starting Steenekamp, Fourie and du Toit.
Pieter-Steph du Toit reached 100 caps while Ox Nché marked his 50th appearance.
Lood de Jager was shown a yellow card in the 79th minute.

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