Full Breakdown
South Africa Stages Second-Half Comeback to Beat New Zealand 29-24 in Johannesburg
9/6/2026, 10:10:03 PM
Core Event
On September 5, 2026, the Springboks defeated the All Blacks 29-24 at FNB Stadium in Soweto. Both sides crossed the try line four times; South Africa’s Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx added tries, and a penalty try was awarded in the first half. New Zealand’s Ardie Savea (two tries), Will Jordan and Samisoni Taukei’aho also scored. The win gave South Africa a 2-1 lead in the four-match series, with one Test remaining in Baltimore, USA.
Background & Context
The series opened with New Zealand winning 33-16 at Ellis Park, followed by South Africa’s 33-26 victory in Cape Town. Leading into the third Test, New Zealand coach Dave Rennie criticised the Springboks’ scrum technique, while captain Siya Kolisi urged his team to honour the memory of anti-apartheid fighters in Soweto. The match was refereed by Georgian official Nika Amashukeli.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: South Africa 29, New Zealand 24.
- Tries: SA – Arendse, Kriel, Marx (penalty try); NZ – Savea, Jordan, Taukei’aho.
- Conversions/penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (7 points).
- Yellow cards: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SA) and Ruben Love (NZ).
- Attendance: 85,976 spectators.
- Kolisi’s 55th Test win as captain, overtaking John Smit’s record.
Official Statements & Responses
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus highlighted continuity in player combinations and praised the forward pack’s set-piece dominance. New Zealand coach Dave Rennie reiterated his earlier criticism of the Springboks’ scrum, describing the South African front row’s tactics as “walking around” the opposition.
On-the-Ground Reports
Match reports described a “ferocious” contest in which New Zealand led early through Savea’s first-half tries. South Africa’s comeback was sparked by a penalty try just before halftime, leveling the score at 12-all. In the second half, Kriel’s try after a Carter tackle and Marx’s maul try shifted momentum, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s late penalty sealed the lead. New Zealand’s consolation try by Taukei’aho came after the final whistle.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The All Blacks came hard at us in the first 25 minutes, their lungs were pumping. We did well not to concede more points,” — Flanker Siya Kolisi, South Africa captain
- “It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” — Rassie Erasmus
What’s Next
The series finale will be played at Baltimore’s FNB Stadium next weekend. New Zealand must win to level the series; South Africa will look to clinch the “Greatest Rivalry” trophy on foreign soil.
