Cheslin Kolbe (Wing)
Kolbe scored two tries, one in each half, showcasing his electric footwork. His first try (38th minute) leveled the score at 7-7 after a slick backline move, shifting momentum before halftime. His second try (48th minute) exploited a defensive lapse, extending the lead to 15-10, with his speed and agility terrorizing the All Blacks’ backline. Made 8 carries for 62 meters, beating 4 defenders, and was solid under high balls, contributing to South Africa’s aerial dominance.
Damian Willemse (Fullback)
Willemse powered over for a try in the 52nd minute, breaking through after a lineout play to make it 29-10, showcasing his physicality. Anchored the backline with 10 carries for 45 meters and made a crucial cover tackle on Will Jordan, preventing a potential All Blacks score. His positional play under high balls and counter-attacking runs helped maintain South Africa’s territorial dominance.
Kwagga Smith (Flanker)
Smith’s bullocking runs broke the All Blacks’ defensive line, with one carry in the 50th minute setting up Willemse’s try. Scored a try in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a turnover and charging 20 meters to make it 36-10. Made 12 tackles and won a key turnover at the breakdown, disrupting the All Blacks’ ruck speed.
RG Snyman (Lock)
Snyman scored a try in the 55th minute, powering over from a dominant lineout maul to extend the lead to 22-10. Dominated the set-piece, securing 5 lineout takes and disrupting 2 All Blacks throws, contributing to South Africa’s 90% lineout success. Made 10 tackles and carried for 15 meters, using his 6’9” frame to impose physicality in tight exchanges.
André Esterhuizen (Centre)
Esterhuizen scored a try in the 70th minute, finishing a clinical backline attack to cap the 43-10 scoreline. His physical presence in midfield neutralized Rieko Ioane, making 14 tackles and winning a turnover. Carried 7 times for 30 meters, often gaining hard yards in heavy traffic to keep the Springboks’ attack rolling.
Most Decisive Moment of the Match
- Kolbe’s First Try (38th minute): Kolbe’s try after a backline move tied the game at 7-7, nullifying the All Blacks’ early lead via Carter’s try and boosting South Africa’s confidence.
- 36 Unanswered Points: The Springboks overwhelmed the All Blacks post-halftime, scoring five tries (Kolbe, Willemse, Smith, Snyman, Esterhuizen) while New Zealand failed to score.
- Snyman’s Try (55th minute): A textbook lineout maul saw Snyman score, pushing the lead to 22-10 and highlighting South Africa’s set-piece edge.
- All Blacks’ Collapse: New Zealand’s defense crumbled, conceding 36 points in the second half, with 14 missed tackles and 3 lost turnovers sealing their fate.
Springboks’ Game Plan Effectiveness
- South Africa’s set-piece dominance, with 90% lineout success and 3 scrum penalties won, overwhelmed the All Blacks’ pack.
- Handré Pollard’s kicking (6/7 conversions, 18 points) and territorial play kept New Zealand pinned back.
- The backline’s precision, with Kolbe and Willemse scoring, exploited gaps, while the defense forced 5 turnovers.
- Only 6 penalties conceded showed discipline, contrasting with the All Blacks’ 10 penalties.
All Blacks’ Biggest Weakness
The All Blacks’ second-half collapse was rooted in a series of defensive and tactical failures. Their defense broke down, with the team missing 14 tackles after halftime, a lapse that allowed the Springboks to score five unanswered tries, including Cheslin Kolbe’s second and Andre Esterhuizen’s late sealer.
The All Blacks were also physically outmatched, as South Africa’s forwards, led by the likes of RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith, consistently dominated collisions and won 80% of rucks. Furthermore, New Zealand’s attack lacked creativity and was hampered by an early injury to scrum-half Finlay Hotham, whose departure disrupted their flow and left them struggling for momentum. Ultimately, after Leroy Carter’s early try, the team could only manage a single penalty goal as their star players like Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane were completely contained by the Springboks’ relentless rush defense.
Match Entertainment Value
The All Blacks and Springboks engaged in a tense first half, ending 10-7, highlighted by a competitive exchange of tries between Leroy Carter and Cheslin Kolbe. However, the match turned into a one-sided affair in the second half, where South Africa’s dominance led to six more tries, including another from Kolbe and a maul try by RG Snyman. Despite the lopsided score, the match’s excitement was maintained by key moments like Kwagga Smith’s powerful 20-meter charge and Handré Pollard’s exceptional kicking. The early aerial contests also added to the initial thrill of the game.
Rassie Erasmus’ Coaching Impact
Rassie Erasmus’s meticulous preparation was evident in the Springboks’ dominant performance, particularly through his set-piece strategy, which yielded a 90% lineout success rate and earned them three scrum penalties. This dominance was largely due to the formidable presence of lock forwards RG Snyman and Eben Etzebeth.
The coaching staff’s tactical acuity was further highlighted by well-timed substitutions of fresh forwards in the 50th minute, a move that directly fueled the team’s explosive 36-point second-half blitz. Defensively, the Springboks neutralized the All Blacks’ dangerous backline by targeting them with high balls and using the physicality of players like Andre Esterhuizen to shut down threats such as Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane. The team’s excellent discipline was also a key factor, with the Springboks conceding only six penalties compared to the All Blacks’ ten, reflecting a clear and effective game plan.
In-depth Match Analysis
The match was a tale of two halves. The All Blacks went into the sheds with a 10-7 lead, largely on the back of a well-executed try and a penalty, while the Springboks struggled with injuries and some uncharacteristic handling errors. However, the second half was a complete reversal. The Springboks’ substitutes, especially Manie Libbok, provided a massive injection of pace and tactical precision. The forward pack, led by a dominant scrum, starved the All Blacks of quality possession and built a platform for the backline to unleash.
Springbok Backline Brilliance
While the Springboks are often lauded for their forward power, this victory was defined by their backline’s attacking flair. Damian Willemse was immense at inside center, providing a dynamic link between forwards and backs. Cheslin Kolbe was a constant threat, and his two tries showcased his deadly finishing ability. The most memorable try of the match, scored by Kwagga Smith, was a backline special, initiated by a brilliant counter-attack from Ethan Hooker and finished with a pinpoint cross-kick from Manie Libbok.
All Blacks’ Unraveling
For the All Blacks, the defeat was a shock to the system. They were unable to withstand the relentless Springbok pressure. Their scrum was consistently dominated, leading to penalties and poor field position. In the backline, handling errors and defensive misreads were costly, most notably Billy Proctor’s intercepted pass that led to Kolbe’s first try. The All Blacks were simply unable to get their attacking game going, with the Springboks’ rush defense suffocating their opportunities. This result marks the All Blacks’ heaviest-ever Test defeat, a record that will sting for a very long time.