South Africa surged back into the storied rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks with a dramatic 33-26 win in Cape Town, thanks to the return of captain Siya Kolisi, who celebrated his comeback by touching down a try. The victory leveled the four‑match series at one win apiece, rekindling the fierce competition that defines Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. Both teams combined for a total of seven tries in the encounter.
The Springboks crossed the line three times – Jesse Kriel opened the scoring, Damian de Allende added his own try, and Kolisi himself finished the first half with a decisive effort. New Zealand answered with four tries of their own, courtesy of Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie and Leroy Carter, while All Blacks captain Ardie Savea capped the match with a late fourth try – his 33rd in Test rugby – bringing the visitors close to a comeback. What ultimately tipped the balance in South Africa's favour was the flawless kicking of Cheslin Kolbe.
The wing contributed 18 points from the tee, converting penalties and drop‑goals with unerring accuracy. His performance proved decisive, especially after Savea’s late try narrowed the gap but could not overcome Kolbe’s perfect execution. From the outset, New Zealand’s coach Ardie Savea warned that his side would face a "wounded beast" in the Springboks.
South Africa answered instantly: Kriel darted over inside the opening two minutes, only for Roigard to equalise midway through the first quarter. Kolbe then slotted a penalty, and de Allende’s try shortly thereafter re‑established South African momentum before the 20‑minute mark.
McKenzie’s converted try kept the All Blacks within striking distance, but Kolisi’s half‑time try sent the hosts into the break with a 24‑14 advantage. The second half saw Kolbe tighten his boot once more, adding two penalties in quick succession that extended the lead to more than two scores. Although Carter managed an unconverted try that briefly sparked hope for New Zealand, Kolbe’s fourth penalty effectively sealed the contest for the Springboks. Kolbe, who was named player of the match, reflected on the team’s mindset: "We knew we had let the previous game slip.
The atmosphere from the South African fans was electric, and we wanted to make our jersey and families proud. In Test rugby you take every point you can, and we stuck to the plan and capitalised on every opportunity." Savea, on the other hand, acknowledged the slow start cost his side dearly: "We gave the Springboks an early lead and spent the first half chasing the game.
We fought back, but fell short. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we haven’t lost the war.
We’ll regroup and come back stronger." The New Zealand captain also paid tribute to two milestone players: Pieter‑Steph du Toit, who earned his 100th cap, and Ox Nche, who celebrated his 50th appearance for the All Blacks. Kolisi, back in the captain’s role after missing the opening test, spoke about the team's resilience: "Last week we missed chances; this week we seized them. Coach Rassie always reminds us this is about the whole nation, not just the players. The mood was low after the first loss, but we turned it around.
Next week will be huge – some of us are playing in Soweto for the first time, and facing the All Blacks four times in a row is a massive challenge." A loss would have marked South Africa’s first consecutive home defeats since 2015, but instead the Springboks left Cape Town with momentum restored as they prepared to travel to Johannesburg for the next test. The lead‑up to the match had been anything but stable for the Springboks. Head coach Rassie Erasmus made five changes to his original lineup after Handre Pollard and Kurt‑Lee Arendse withdrew on Friday. This forced him to recall Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu at fly‑half, just a week after dropping him, and to insert Kolbe onto the wing.
An hour before kickoff, further adjustments saw Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit promoted to the starting front row, pushing Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Wilco Louw onto the bench without public explanation. On a brighter note, Kolisi’s return to the captaincy and Du Toit’s 100‑cap milestone added a sense of occasion to the match.
New Zealand also made three changes from their previous win at Ellis Park, bringing in Leroy Carter for Josh Moorby and adding George Bower and Tupou Vaa'i to the pack after Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord were ruled out with concussion. Ruben Love retained the fly‑half jersey, while Beauden Barrett remained outside the match‑day 23.
The All Blacks’ earlier five‑try, 33‑16 triumph in Johannesburg had propelled them to the top of the world rankings, giving Dave Rennie’s side an early edge in the first full test series between the two nations in three decades. South Africa’s response in Cape Town not only levelled the series but also extended a remarkable home record: in the past 30 years the Springboks have lost only one series on home soil.
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 beaten the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, and narrowly escaped 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 culminating in a historic first meeting on American soil at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on September 12.
All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with kick‑off times listed for the UK and Ireland. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience, ensuring they can follow every minute of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa, streamed contract‑free via NOW. The excitement continues to build as both nations prepare for the decisive fixtures that will determine which side ultimately claims Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.