In a stunning display of resilience and skill, the Springboks demolished the All Blacks with a historic 43-10 victory at Hamilton, handing their rivals their biggest defeat ever. After trailing 10-7 at halftime, Rassie Erasmus's squad erupted in the second half, piling on 36 unanswered points, keeping their Rugby Championship title defense alive and securing the Freedom Cup.
The game kicked off with an explosive break by Aphelele Fassi, setting the tone early. Despite an initial stumble due to a lineout error, the Springboks dominated the opening exchanges. Cheslin Kolbe's try was narrowly prevented by a stellar Jordie Barrett tackle. Meanwhile, RG Snyman’s potential score was discounted due to a preceding knock-on. The All Blacks capitalized on these missed opportunities, with newcomer Leroy Carter slicing through for a debut try after his break ignited the buildup, leading to a 10-7 lead at the break.
The Springboks' response after halftime was nothing short of spectacular. Siya Kolisi's break set up Kolbe for his second try, turning the game on its head. Manie Libbok added points through a penalty, giving the Boks a lead they would only build on. Rapid tries from Damian Willemse and Kwagga Smith, with Ethan Hooker making a notable impact off the bench, extended their lead further.
Libbok's strategic cross-field kick to Pieter-Steph du Toit, who then connected with Smith, epitomized the tactical acumen of Erasmus's side. Snyman, redeeming his earlier disallowed effort, and Andre Esterhuizen, with a powerful surge, closed out the scoring, cementing a memorable win.
"We needed a big performance, and the boys delivered beyond expectations," said Erasmus after the match.
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In a stunning display of resilience and skill, the Springboks demolished the All Blacks with a historic 43-10 victory at Hamilton, handing their rivals their biggest defeat ever. After trailing 10-7 at halftime, Rassie Erasmus's squad erupted in the second half, piling on 36 unanswered points, keeping their Rugby Championship title defense alive and securing the Freedom Cup.
The game kicked off with an explosive break by Aphelele Fassi, setting the tone early. Despite an initial stumble due to a lineout error, the Springboks dominated the opening exchanges. Cheslin Kolbe's try was narrowly prevented by a stellar Jordie Barrett tackle. Meanwhile, RG Snyman’s potential score was discounted due to a preceding knock-on. The All Blacks capitalized on these missed opportunities, with newcomer Leroy Carter slicing through for a debut try after his break ignited the buildup, leading to a 10-7 lead at the break.
The Springboks' response after halftime was nothing short of spectacular. Siya Kolisi's break set up Kolbe for his second try, turning the game on its head. Manie Libbok added points through a penalty, giving the Boks a lead they would only build on. Rapid tries from Damian Willemse and Kwagga Smith, with Ethan Hooker making a notable impact off the bench, extended their lead further.
Libbok's strategic cross-field kick to Pieter-Steph du Toit, who then connected with Smith, epitomized the tactical acumen of Erasmus's side. Snyman, redeeming his earlier disallowed effort, and Andre Esterhuizen, with a powerful surge, closed out the scoring, cementing a memorable win.
"We needed a big performance, and the boys delivered beyond expectations," said Erasmus after the match.
The teams lined up as follows:
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell, Fabian Holland, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Finlay Christie, Quinn Tupaea, Ruben Love.
Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Re