Springboks pay the price for costly errors as All Blacks pull off upset victory

By SABC Sport
22nd August 2026

The Springboks paid a heavy price for failing to take their opportunities against a more clinical All Blacks side who came away with a famous 33-16 victory at Ellis Park.

The match began at a ferocious pace, with the Springboks defending the All Blacks' opening possessions with intensity, forcing several turnovers before Cheslin Kolbe opened the scoring from the kicking tee after New Zealand conceded a breakdown penalty.

But when the Boks gave away several penalties of their own, it allowed the All Blacks to kick for the corner and pile on the pressure. A flat pass out wide found Will Jordan, who crossed over in the corner for the opening try of the series. The conversion was wide but the All Blacks were in front.

The Boks got a chance to kick for the corner shortly after the restart, and it was a simple fend off from Andre Esterhuizen - on the field for Kurt-Lee Arendse, who had to go off for a HIA - that saw them over the line. Kolbe converted as the Boks took a 10-5 lead.

The visitors soon hit back, however, as a fairly simple first-phase move got the better of the Bok defence, with a clever pass from Tupou Vaa'i in the tackle sending Josh Moorby over. The All Blacks converted to retake the lead.

But a scrum shortly after the restart resulted in a penalty for the Boks right in front, with Kolbe converting as the Boks retook the lead by one.

When the Boks won another scrum penalty after driving the All Blacks back on their own ball, they kicked for the corner, with their rolling maul powering forward only for Malcolm Marx to drop the ball with the try line beckoning.

With time running out in the first half, a superb high kick and excellent pressure from the chasers forced a lineout for the Boks, but once again they were not clinical enough to make it count.

The Bok scrum continued to look dangerous, with another scrum penalty early in the second half allowing Cheslin Kolbe to extend the lead by another three.

But then came disaster for the Boks, as Grant Williams - who had been looking a little slow behind the ruck all game - saw his up and under charged down, allowing Fabian Hollan to regather the ball and score a try totally against the run of play, converting to give the All Blacks a 19-16 lead.

The Boks wasted another golden attacking opportunity shortly after with another unforced error in possession, which was unfortunately starting to become a feature of their play. Once again, their scrum got them out of trouble as they forced another turnover to regain possession.

But then came the turning point as the Boks overplayed their hand, calling for scrum after scrum on the All Blacks' five-metre line without finding a way over, and eventually the penalty went the other way.

Cam Roigard came within inches of scoring the All Black's third try after a breakout from Damian McKenzie, but they did win a five-metre scrum instead, and Luke Jacobson crashed over from the back of a solid platform. The try was converted and suddenly the All Blacks found themselves 10 points ahead with 20 minutes to play.

It then got worse for the Boks, as Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were both sent to the bin in quick succession for infringements on their own try-line.

After massive, sustained pressure on the Springbok line, the try finally came for Will Jordan on the outside, as the All Blacks stretched their lead.

And while the Boks huffed and puffed as they tried to get back in their game, they didn't get any more clinical, as the visitors comfortably held on for a massive win.