South Africa surged back into what many call Rugby's Greatest Rivalry when captain Siya Kolisi, back from injury, crossed the line for a try in a pulsating 33-26 triumph over the All Blacks in Cape Town, drawing the four‑match series level at one apiece. Both teams combined for seven tries in the encounter.
The Springboks' tally featured scores from Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Kolisi himself, while New Zealand responded through Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie and Leroy Carter. Yet it was the flawless kicking of Cheslin Kolbe, who amassed 18 points from penalties and conversions, that ultimately tipped the balance in South Africa's favour. All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea added a late fourth try – his 33rd in Test rugby – giving New Zealand a total of four tries to the Springboks' three.
Despite the extra score, the visitors could not overcome Kolbe's perfect accuracy from the tee. Savea had warned before kickoff that his side would face a "wounded beast," but South Africa answered with immediate aggression. Kriel struck inside the opening two minutes, only for Roigard to equalise midway through the first quarter, setting the tone for a tightly contested match.
Kolbe opened the scoring with a penalty, and shortly after de Allende dived over for a try, re‑establishing South African dominance before the 20‑minute mark. McKenzie's successful conversion kept the All Blacks within touching distance, but Kolisi's half‑time try just before the break gave the hosts a 24‑14 lead. The second half saw Kolbe extend the advantage with two quick penalties, widening the gap to more than two scores.
Although Carter managed an unconverted try that briefly revived New Zealand hopes, Kolbe's fourth penalty effectively sealed the victory for the Springboks. "We know last week we let it slip," Kolbe, who was named player of the match, said. "We could feel the mood from the South African fans. We just wanted to do the jersey proud, our families proud.
You need to take every point given to you. That's Test match rugby. We stuck to the plan to take the points on offer." Savea acknowledged his side's slow start. "We kind of let the Springboks get ahead in the first two minutes and we were chasing the game," the New Zealand captain admitted.
"We stuck in there but we came up short. It's a tough pill to swallow. We lost the battle tonight but we haven't lost the war.
We'll get back on the horse this week and go again." Savea also paid tribute to milestones reached on the field: Pieter‑Steph du Toit earned his 100th cap, while Ox Nche celebrated his 50th appearance for the All Blacks. Kolisi reflected on the team's turnaround.
"It's been a massive week. Last week we didn't take our opportunities but this week we did.
Coach Rassie always reminds us that this is not just about us, it's about all of South Africa. We knew the mood was down last week.
Next week is going to be big. Some of us are playing for the first time in Soweto. It's hard playing them once.
Playing them four times in a row is incredibly difficult." A loss would have handed South Africa consecutive home defeats for the first time since 2015, but Erasmus' side instead left Cape Town buoyed and headed to Johannesburg with renewed momentum. The build‑up to the match was anything but stable.
Erasmus made five alterations to his original lineup after Handre Pollard and Kurt‑Lee Arendse withdrew on the Friday before the game. This forced a last‑minute recall of Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu at fly‑half, just a week after he had been dropped, and saw Kolbe shifted onto the wing in the starting XV. An additional reshuffle occurred an hour before kickoff when Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit were promoted to the starting front row, relegating Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Wilco Louw to the bench without any public explanation.
On a positive note, Kolisi returned to the captaincy after missing the opening Test, while du Toit celebrated his centenary cap, underscoring the blend of experience and fresh leadership within the squad. New Zealand also made three changes from their win at Ellis Park. Leroy Carter replaced Josh Moorby on the wing, and George Bower and Tupou Vaa'i were drafted into the pack to replace the injured Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, both ruled out with concussion. Ruben Love retained the fly‑half jersey, while veteran Beauden Barrett remained outside the match‑day 23.
The All Blacks' five‑try, 33‑16 victory in Johannesburg had propelled them above the world champions in the world rankings, giving Dave Rennie's side an early edge in the first full Test series between the nations in three decades. South Africa's response in Cape Town was decisive.
By leveling the series at 1‑1, the Springboks extended a formidable home record that has seen them lose only one series on South African soil in the past thirty years. The tour, billed as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, marks New Zealand's first full visit to South Africa since 1996. The All Blacks arrived unbeaten, having dispatched the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls before narrowly escaping with a win over the Lions in a mid‑week clash in Johannesburg. The series now shifts to the FNB Stadium for the third Test on September 5, before concluding with a historic first meeting on American soil at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium on September 12.
All matches are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with kick‑off times listed for the UK and Ireland. Fans can also stream every minute of the New Zealand tour of South Africa on Sky Sports' NOW platform, enjoying contract‑free access to rugby and other sports.