Sublime Springboks beat gallant All Blacks in US epic to claim series victory in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry
Cameron Hanekom's try seals victory for Springboks over All Blacks.
The Springboks won yet another epic Test match against the All Blacks, claiming a 43-28 victory in Baltimore to seal a 3-1 series triumph in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
After three internationals in South Africa, they took the finale to the US, and the crowd were treated to a fantastic occasion.
Like the previous encounters, the two best teams in the world put on a show, with the back-to-back world champions doing enough to claim the win.
Following an early Codie Taylor try, South Africa dominated the rest of the half with Damian de Allende and Morne van den Berg going over, but they only had a 17-14 advantage going into the second period due to Will Jordan’s score.
However, they dominated the start of the final 40 minutes of the tour when Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit crossed the whitewash.
That lead was enough to seal the success, despite Ethan Blackadder’s effort, as the pressure told late on with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cameron Hanekom going over.
The All Blacks, who have contributed so much over the past few weeks, did have the final word through the returning Beauden Barrett, but it was only a consolation try.
Fascinating start
It is a series which has been characterised by the Springboks’ forward power and the All Blacks’ attacking prowess, so it was fascinating to see Rassie Erasmus’ men move the ball early from deep.
And then from the first New Zealand lineout, they opted to drive, making fully 10 metres before Taylor was told to break off by the referee.
It was an interesting change-up from both teams, but they soon looked towards the strengths which had served them so well in the series.
After earning a penalty, South Africa opened the scoring via the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu before Dave Rennie’s side found their attacking rhythm.
They showed their wonderful skills, with Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu and Will Jordan to the fore, sending Damian McKenzie scampering down the left. McKenzie was brought down just short of the line, but captain Taylor was on hand to cross the whitewash.
Damian McKenzie converted, handing his team a four-point buffer, but they were not ahead for long.
The Boks were direct and physical and, alongside a little bit of Feinberg-Mngomezulu magic, they managed to get within five metres of the line. Eben Etzebeth and Van den Berg both inched them closer before De Allende provided the finishing touch.
South Africa had the momentum and, as they have done for the majority of the past three weeks, began to dominate the aerial game.
That enabled them to control territory and, from a five-metre lineout, which yielded a penalty advantage, Van den Berg sniped over from close range to increase their advantage.
Erasmus’ outfit were very much on the front foot and created other opportunities, but errors and some outstanding defensive work by the All Blacks held them out.
It kept the three-time world champions in the game and, when Rennie’s men got into the opposition 22, they made no mistake. New Zealand went through a staggering 32 phases in a brutal showdown at close quarters before outstanding hands from forwards and backs alike ended in Barrett feeding Jordan to score.
Springboks take control
The New Zealanders were back in the contest heading into the break, but they were cut open twice at the start of the second period by Arendse. The cover defence did their job to halt the attack but the All Blacks didn’t heed their warning and the Boks managed to get over once again thanks to a dominant drive which ended in Marx crossing.
Evidently inspired by that try, South Africa scored minutes later when Van den Berg, who was exceptional, gave the much-improved Feinberg-Mngomezulu the space to race down the right. They then went through the phases and this time the Kiwi rearguard could not cope with Du Toit getting himself on the scoresheet.
Once again, the All Blacks never gave up and thought they had a route back into the game when Blackadder touched down, but the Boks were simply too strong.
They went over twice in the final 10 minutes – the first a sublime finish from Arendse and the second a much scrappier try via Hanekom – to complete the win, despite Beauden Barrett’s consolation.
The teams
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Beauden Barrett
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU) and Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
READ MORE: Springboks v All Blacks: Result, match details, stats, line-ups