Overview
- The All Blacks beat the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday after overturning a 13-12 halftime deficit to take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.
- New Zealand scored five tries to South Africa’s one, with Will Jordan crossing twice and Ruben Love adding four conversions to finish the scoring.
- Two South African replacements, Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach, were yellow-carded in quick succession late in the match, leaving the Boks with 13 men and allowing New Zealand to close out the game.
- Injury and head-injury concerns emerged for South Africa when Kurt-Lee Arendse failed a HIA and did not return and Cheslin Kolbe limped off, creating selection uncertainty for the second Test in Cape Town on 29 August.
- The loss ended South Africa’s 12-Test winning streak and moved New Zealand to the top of the World Rugby rankings, increasing pressure on the Springboks to respond in the remaining three matches including the scheduled neutral Test in Baltimore.