By Lucky Vince Pienaar
First half: After a much more respectful reception of the haka, Matthew Carley awards a scrum to the All Blacks from the kick-off. The dominant Springbok scrum first makes it difficult for Cortex Ratima to send the ball down the backline, then gets the Boks a penalty.
It’s a messy start but the Springboks seem to be in charge particularly in the scrums.
An overthrow at a Springbok lineout leads to a long period of All Blacks possession – and they are hard to stop. Only determined defence stops them short of the line.
An attempted kick pass from Willie le Roux falls into the hands of Will Jordan who immediately shows how dangerous he is.
Jasper Wiese receives a yellow card for cynical play. The penalty is right in front of the posts. (SA 0-3 NZ 15min)
Sevo Reece is yellow carded for tackling Willie le Roux in the air.
Magic from Cheslin Kolbe takes the Boks into striking range but a knock on by Pieter-Steph du Toit prevents a score.
It’s been 20 minutes and there has been only one score. A tight match.
Again Le Roux is special with his pass and kick-ahead. They forgo a certain three pointer right in front of the posts to go for the line out. The end result is a penalty for New Zealand and no points for the Boks.
The All Blacks do what the Boks should have done. Damian McKenzie takes an easy penalty shot. It’s a six point lead that may be decisive in a tight match. (SA 0-6 NZ 30min)
At last the Boks take a penalty and the score looks better. (SA 3-6 NZ 31min)
A South African nightmare: Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele’a, Will Jordan working in concert, but the Bok defence is up to the task.
The halftime hooter sounds – but Ruan Nortje concedes a penalty that Dmac taps over. (SA 3-9 NZ 41min).
Is it going to be up to the bench to rescue the match in the second half?
Second half: The Boks start tentatively and immediately concede a penalty.
Are they waiting for the impact players to come on?
Marx immediately makes a difference off the bench. He comes within inches of a try with a penalty to come. Again the Boks don’t take the points on offer and go for the lineout.
Again the Boks say no thank you to three easy points – but this time captain Kolisi gets the try under the post. (SA 10-9 NZ 49min).
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaces Pollard. How will the game change?
When SA get a penalty, Sacha takes the ball and points at the poles. Who made that decision? The kick is good. (SA 13-9 NZ 53min).
The game has changed. Both teams have stepped up their urgency. The All Blacks go onto the attack. The defence holds but the Boks concede a penalty. (SA 13-12 NZ 56min)
Le Roux goes for an intercept, but the ref calls it a deliberate knock-down. Willie goes to the bin and Dmac goes for posts, but the ball hits the post.
Sacha misses a penalty from the halfway line.
Dmac takes a penalty in front of the posts – and hooks the easiest kick of his career to the left.
Then the game changes once more when Marx scores in the left corner. (SA 18-12 NZ 73min)
The last seven minutes last forever, but the Boks steal a line out and kick the ball into touch.
South Africa (2 tries) 18-12 (0 tries) New Zealand
SA tries: Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx
NZ tries: none
Pictured above: Malcolm Marx back to his best
Source: SA Rugby
