Springboks edge All Blacks in a thriller
Scrum-half Grant Williams scored a 75th-minute try to give South Africa a dramatic 31-27 comeback victory over New Zealand in a Rugby Championship thriller in Johannesburg on Saturday. The All Blacks had looked likelier winners for much of the match, but conceded two tries in the final 11 minutes after replacement prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi was yellow carded.
Less prone to errors, New Zealand scored four tries and built a 27-17 lead on 53 minutes against rivals struggling to click in a rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final won by South Africa. But the spirit of the Springboks told in a tense finish as they scored 14 unanswered points, with fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting tries by flanker Kwagga Smith and Williams.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi was the other Springboks try scorer and Feinberg-Mngomezulu contributed 16 points from two conversions and four penalties. Winger Caleb Clarke twice, hooker Codie Taylor and centre Jordie Barrett were the New Zealand try scorers and fly-half Damian McKenzie slotted two conversions and a penalty.