Boks win their Freedom back

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks have won the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 and their Round Four match of the Rugby Championship by beating the All Blacks 18-12 in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Springboks won their fourth Test match in a row against the All Blacks and remain unbeaten in the Rugby Championship.

It is the first time since 1949 that the Boks have managed four consecutive victories of All Blacks.

The Springboks kept the All Blacks tryless in this Test match, reducing them to four penalty kicks by Damian McKenzie.

The Boks scored two tries, by captain Siya Kolisi and hooker Malcolm Marx.

It was not the entertaining spectacle from last week, this was more tight and it took grit to grind this one out.

In the first scrum of the match, Springboks demolished the All Blacks.

During the first ten minutes, it was the All Blacks who dominated territory and possession in a stanza that also saw a lot of kicking by both sides.

In the 14th minute, Jasper Wiese got his marching orders for cynical play, and barely two minutes later the All Black’s Sevu Reece also got shown a yellow card for dangerous play as he jumped into Willie le Roux while in the air.

Then hooker Codie Taylor left the field for an HIA (Head Injury Assessment) and was replaced by Asafo Aumua.

Canan Moodie almost got a try with both teams still having 14 players on the field after a high kick by Willie le Roux into the in-goal area but the wing could not dot the ball down.

A corner kick by Handre Pollard for a line-out set up the Boks’ first attack five metres from New Zealand’s try-line.

But the Boks’ forwards were off their feet, offering the ball to Jordie Barrett to kick downfield.

At this stage, Wiese returned, as did Taylor after being cleared by the medical staff, in time for the sixth scrum of the game.

McKenzie edged the All Blacks ahead with another successful penalty kick after the Springboks did not roll away in time from a ruck.

Finally, the Springboks got some points through a penalty kick by Pollard, closing the gap to 3-6.

Indiscipline and mistakes by the home side were hindering their hard work to get over the advantage line and build some momentum.

Just before halftime the All Blacks had a line-out inside the Boks’ 22 and won a penalty smack bang in front of the uprights taking the teams into the break leading by 9-3.

The Springboks’ line-outs were a mess, there were issues at the breakdown and it would be something that coach Rassie Erasmus would have addressed at halftime.

The second half barely started or another penalty went the way of the All Blacks with another infringement by the Springboks at the breakdown.

It was a long kick, around 56 metres, and McKenzie sent it wide.

The Boks started throwing the ball around, opting to run more in the second half and that made a huge difference in the attacking opportunities.

Malcolm Marx replaced Bongi Mbonambi and Lukhanyo Am was in for Canan Moodie in the 45th minute

A penalty awarded to the home side resulted in a kick for the corner and the Boks started a rolling maul.

The ball went wide, the forwards drove forward, Eben Etzebeth went for the whitewash but was short and the TMO relook revealed it was indeed short as there was no clear grounding.

Two more kicks for the corner were taken and the second line-out saw Cheslin Kolbe throw in the ball.

Eventually, captain Siya Kolisi got over for the first try of the match after a sustained period of pressure in the All Blacks 22’ and the Springboks took the lead for the first time by 13-9.

After 50 minutes Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaced Handre Pollard.

And he immediately stepped up for a penalty kick which was a mere formality for the 22-year-old.

After just under an hour of play, Kwagga Smith replaced Kolisi.

Another penalty kick by McKenzie closed the gap 12-13 for the All Blacks.

Willie le Roux was sin-binned for slapping the ball down, but fortunately for the Springboks McKenzie’s penalty kick hit the uprights.

Nine minutes before the hooter, the All Blacks won a penalty after an infringement by Gerhard Steenekamp.

McKenzie inexplicably missed it right in front of the poles, a kick that would’ve sent the All Blacks into the lead again.

A little drama ensued when Kolbe was shoulder-charged after he chased a kick, and the referee sent Tyral Lomax to the bin in what could be a game-changer for the Boks.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu went for touch, the Boks started a rolling maul and then Marx dove over in the corner for his 20th Test try to clinch the game for the Springboks.

With five minutes left on the clock, the Boks were leading 18-12 and the All Blacks het 14 players on the field.

In order to have active scrums, Rieko Ioane had to leave the field for Ofa Tu’ungafasi to scrum.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu then created a stunning moment as he broke free and kicked a rolling kick into touch in the All Blacks 22.

The Boks were on the attack, smelling the whitewash with three minutes to go.

Hendrikse passed to Kolbe who went for a drop goal, but it went wide.

The Springboks worked hard for the win but deserved the victory and the trophy.

The Boks make it four in a row against the All Blacks…and the Freedom Cup is coming home 🏆#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/Sau0OEd4zl

— Springboks (@Springboks) September 7, 2024

Man of the Match: Damian de Allende had a solid performance, predominantly in defence, and how he spread the ball in the second half.

Moment of the Match: When Malcolm Marx took the field – he rectified the lineout woes of the Boks and scored the winning try.

Villain of the Match: The All Blacks prop Tyler Lomax for his shoulder charge on Cheslin Kolbe which ultimately won the game for the Springboks.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Kolisi, Marx
Cons: Pollard
Pens: Pollard, Feinberg-Mngomezulu

For the All Blacks:
Pens: McKenzie 4

Yellow cards: Jasper Wiese (South Africa, 14’ – cynical play); Sevu Reece (New Zealand, 16’ – dangerous play); Willie le Roux (South Africa, 62’ – slapping the ball)

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Te’lea, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyral Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Leinert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)