Springboks Hit Back: South Africa Level Rivalry Series With Cape Town Win Over All Blacks
South Africa beat New Zealand 33-26 at Cape Town on Saturday to level the 2026 Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series at one Test apiece, bouncing back from a bruising opening defeat in Johannesburg a week earlier.
New Zealand had won the first Test 33-16 at Ellis Park, outscoring the Springboks five tries to one — with All Blacks wing Jordan crossing twice to take his international try tally to 53, according to Reuters. The four-Test series now moves on with honours even.
South Africa made two late changes to their starting XV before kick-off, involving fly-half Handre Pollard, Reuters reported. Angus Gardner refereed as a late call-up in place of Nika Amashukeli.
The Springboks built a 24-14 half-time lead and never relinquished it, the Springboks confirmed. Jesse Kriel opened the try-scoring after a maul — the rolling pack of forwards that drives defenders back off the ball — powered into New Zealand's 22. Damian de Allende added a second from another maul, and captain Siya Kolisi crashed over for a third just before the break.
Cheslin Kolbe kicked a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking for South Africa. New Zealand stayed in touching distance through Damian McKenzie, who scored a walk-in try from a line-out, and Ruben Love, who levelled the scores at one stage with a penalty kicked from straight in front.
Cam Roigard was outstanding for the All Blacks at scrum-half, keeping the visitors alive with sharp service and tactical awareness. But South Africa's bench tilted the contest. Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche — both powerful scrummagers — arrived to squeeze the set-piece, and lock Eben Etzebeth spoiled a New Zealand line-out five metres from the Springbok try line to kill a threatening attack.
Deon Fourie, at nearly 40, became the oldest Springbok in history, the BBC reported. His presence on the bench underscored South Africa's preference for experienced campaigners in the closing stages of a tight Test.
For fans, this result restores the series to a clean slate after New Zealand's commanding opener. The All Blacks' five-try blitz at Ellis Park had suggested they held the whip hand, but South Africa's forward muscle — particularly at the maul and scrum — proved decisive on home soil in Cape Town. The remaining two Tests will determine which side claims the 2026 series, and on this evidence the margin between them is razor-thin.
