New Zealand staged a dramatic comeback in the second half, erasing an 18‑point shortfall to edge out the Lions 41‑35 and stave off a potential shock loss at Ellis Park on Tuesday. The victory not only kept the All Blacks unbeaten against the four provincial sides on their intensive six‑week, eight‑match South African tour, but also followed their dominant 33‑16 triumph over the Springboks in the first Test earlier that weekend. The squad that took the field against the Lions was markedly different from the one that secured the Test win on Saturday.
Only three members of the Saturday side were retained, and five players were drafted in as injury replacements during the tour – one of whom arrived just on Monday. Among the newcomers was prop Saula Ma'u, who earned his first cap in the match.
The All Blacks’ defensive effort was shaky at times, with the team missing a total of 19 tackles throughout the contest. They fell behind early, trailing 14‑0 after just seven minutes, and the deficit widened as the half progressed. By halftime the visitors were still down, and the situation grew more precarious in the second half when the Lions surged ahead to a 35‑17 lead in the 47th minute. At that point, the Lions were on the verge of becoming the first South African provincial outfit to defeat New Zealand since the Orange Free State (now the Cheetahs) accomplished the feat in 1976.
However, the Lions were also dealing with a lack of recent match practice; they had not played since the United Rugby Championship quarter‑finals on May 30, leaving them out of season and not fully match‑fit. New Zealand, aware of the looming threat, began to find a rhythm in the final 30 minutes.
Four quick tries in rapid succession turned the tide. Wing Rieko Ioane crossed the line twice, while flanker Ethan Blackadder added a second try of his own, giving the All Blacks their first lead of the game in the 62nd minute.
The final nail in the coffin came when winger Emoni Narawa scored his second try in the 79th minute, sealing the win and calming the nerves of the touring side. "The Lions came out hissing," Blackadder reflected after the match. "But we stayed composed and found a way in the end.
They were quality tonight." Blackadder, whose father Todd toured with the All Blacks in 1996, was a standout performer alongside inside centre Timoci Tavatavanawai, Narawa, and fly‑half Richie Mo'unga – the latter returning from a stint in Japan and wearing the black jersey for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final. Coach Dave Rennie praised Blackadder’s impact, noting, "He's got a massive engine and was everywhere." The flanker’s performance also boosted his prospects for future Test selection, especially after Anton Segner was ruled out for the remainder of the tour due to a severe ankle injury that will require two surgeries and has been diagnosed as acute inflammatory arthritis. Segner’s withdrawal from the first‑Test reserves left a gap that the coaching staff will need to address.
Mo'unga’s influence grew as the match progressed, though both he and veteran Beauden Barrett managed to convert only three of the seven tries New Zealand scored. In contrast, Lions kicker Chris Smith was flawless with the boot, converting all five of his side’s tries and even sending a long‑range penalty wide of the post.
The win ensures that the All Blacks have now swept all four provincial opponents – the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions – maintaining an unblemished record on the tour. It also underscores the depth of New Zealand’s talent pool, as the team successfully integrated several late‑arrival replacements and a debutant while still delivering a high‑octane performance under pressure.
Fans can relive every moment of New Zealand’s South African adventure live on Sky Sports, with full‑match replays and highlights available on the NOW streaming platform, offering contract‑free access to rugby union and other sports. The broadcast schedule lists kick‑off times for the United Kingdom and Ireland, ensuring that supporters across the region can follow the action in real time.
Looking ahead, the All Blacks will aim to build on this hard‑earned victory as they prepare for the remaining fixtures of their tour. The resilience shown against a well‑rested but out‑of‑season Lions side bodes well for the squad’s confidence, especially as they continue to fine‑tune combinations and integrate the newer members into the team’s core structure.
For the Lions, the narrow defeat serves as a reminder of the fine margins in elite rugby and the importance of maintaining match fitness throughout the season. Overall, the Ellis Park encounter was a showcase of New Zealand’s ability to adapt, persevere, and execute under duress, reinforcing their reputation as one of the world’s most formidable rugby nations.