South Africa continued their dominance over New Zealand with an 18-12 victory in Cape Town on Saturday, marking the first time in 75 years that the Springboks have recorded four consecutive wins against their old foes. Tries from captain Siya Kolisi and hooker Malcolm Marx secured the crucial Rugby Championship victory in front of a passionate crowd of 55,000 at Cape Town Stadium.
The match was a high-intensity contest, filled with energy but marred by errors from both sides that prevented it from becoming a classic encounter. Kolisi, who played despite a fractured nose, crossed the try line early in the second half, while Marx added another in the closing stages to guide the world champions to victory.
New Zealand fly-half Damian McKenzie kicked all 12 points for the visitors but missed two crucial penalties from close range that ultimately proved costly for his team. The All Blacks have now lost three of their last four Tests, highlighting a tough start for new head coach Scott Robertson.
With this win, South Africa sits comfortably at the top of the Rugby Championship table with 18 points, while New Zealand lags behind with just seven points, making it impossible for them to overtake the Springboks with only two games remaining against Australia. Argentina and Australia, with five and four points respectively, still have a slim chance to compete for the title as they face each other later on Saturday.
The victory also saw South Africa reclaim the Freedom Cup, contested between the two rugby giants, for the first time since 2009.
“Credit to the All Blacks; we knew they would bring it hard, and there is no doubt they are going to turn it around,” Kolisi said after the match. “In the past, we would win a big game and then lose the next one. For us, it is now about backing up our results, and we did that today.”
Despite their dominance at the breakdown, New Zealand struggled to contain South Africa in the final 20 minutes, with the Springboks exerting control over territory and possession. New Zealand led 9-3 at halftime thanks to a resilient defensive effort from both teams, though each side saw a player sent to the sin bin—Jasper Wiese for South Africa and Sevu Reece for New Zealand.
South Africa’s substitutes made an immediate impact after the break, helping the home side take the lead for the first time in the 49th minute. Kolisi powered over the try line following sustained pressure in New Zealand’s 22. The teams exchanged penalties, but South Africa was temporarily down to 14 players again when Willie le Roux was penalized for a deliberate knock-on.
With eight minutes remaining, McKenzie had the chance to put New Zealand ahead but missed a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts. New Zealand’s woes were compounded when Tyrel Lomax was yellow-carded for obstructing Cheslin Kolbe. From the resulting lineout, Marx sealed the win with a try, bursting from a maul to score in the corner.
Reflecting on the match, New Zealand captain Scott Barrett said, “We had opportunities, but when you don’t take them, a quality side like the Springboks will punish you. They edged their way back, that’s what they do.”
The win is a significant boost for South Africa as they edge closer to the Rugby Championship title, while New Zealand will need to regroup as they face a challenging path ahead.
