Springboks Stage Thrilling Comeback to Edge Out All Blacks in Rugby Championship Classic

In a match that lived up to its billing, South Africa pulled off a sensational 31-27 victory over New Zealand in the third week of the 2024 Rugby Championship, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final quarter to claim a dramatic win at home.

The clash, a rematch of last year's World Cup final, saw the Springboks trailing 27-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, a yellow card for New Zealand prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi in the 69th minute opened the door for South Africa, who seized the opportunity with a late surge.

The All Blacks, who scored four tries to South Africa's three, looked set to take control early on. Codie Taylor and Caleb Clarke both crossed the line in the first half, with Clarke adding a second try after the break. Jordie Barrett's breakaway try had given New Zealand a comfortable 10-point lead, but it was not enough to stave off the Springboks' comeback.

South Africa’s fightback was fueled by the precise kicking of fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whose 16 points from the boot kept the hosts within touching distance throughout the contest. Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted four penalties and converted tries from Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith, and the decisive score from replacement scrum-half Grant Williams.

Williams, who came off the bench late in the game, delivered the match-winning moment, darting over for a try in the dying minutes that sent the crowd into raptures. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s successful conversion sealed the victory, capping a remarkable turnaround.

South Africa had started strongly with Mbonambi’s early try, but New Zealand quickly responded, going into the halftime break with a narrow 12-11 lead. The second half saw the visitors extend their advantage with tries from Barrett and Clarke, but the Springboks refused to back down, maintaining their composure as the clock ticked down.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi praised his team’s resilience after the match, emphasizing the importance of staying calm under pressure. "Obviously, we do not want to be in a situation where we are trailing entering the closing stages," Kolisi said. "The key thing was not to panic, and we did what we wanted to do. Not panicking was the key to our victory."

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett acknowledged the Springboks' quality and expressed pride in his team’s effort despite the loss. "The Springboks showed that they are a class team and we were not quite good enough," Barrett said. "It was a huge effort, and I'm proud of the boys, but it was not quite enough."

The result keeps the Rugby Championship wide open, with South Africa gaining a crucial win in front of their home supporters. For New Zealand, the loss is a reminder of the fine margins at play at the highest level, and they will look to bounce back in the remaining matches.

As the Rugby Championship continues, both teams will take valuable lessons from this epic encounter, which will surely be remembered as one of the standout games of the tournament.