South Africa edge out All Blacks to close in on title

2024 Rugby Championship

South Africa (3) 18

Tries: Kolisi, Marx Cons: Pollard Pens: Pollard, Mngomezulu

New Zealand (9) 12

Pens: McKenzie (4)

South Africa fought back from behind to beat New Zealand and close in on the Rugby Championship title after the fourth of six rounds.

Trailing 9-3 at half-time, the world champions took the lead when captain Siya Kolisi dived over for a try converted by Handre Pollard early in the second half.

All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie missed an easy-looking penalty with the score at 13-12 to the Springboks, who soon extended their lead.

With the All Blacks down to 14 players after Tyrel Lomax was sin-binned, Malcolm Marx touched down just inside the corner flag for a lead that proved to be enough.

Argentina meet Australia later on Saturday, with both sides needing a bonus-point win to have any chance of overtaking South Africa in the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures.

The All Blacks, who let a 10-point lead slip before losing to South Africa a week earlier, were ahead throughout a disjointed first half thanks to McKenzie’s boot.

But after half-time, Kolisi went over for a try from close range shortly after Eben Etzebeth had been stopped just short of the New Zealand line.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaced Pollard and landed a long-range penalty before McKenzie kicked his fourth to make it 13-12.

McKenzie then hit the post with another penalty attempt, but his miss almost straight in front of the posts from about 35 metres proved a turning point.

Prop Lomax was shown the yellow card inside the last 10 minutes for impeding Cheslin Kolbe as the winger ran past him, and within seconds Marx had claimed the Springboks’ second try.

South Africa play Argentina away, then at home, in their remaining Rugby Championship fixtures.