Springboks prop Frans Malherbe tackles All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor. Photo: AFP/Phill Magakoe
The Springboks have scored two late tries to beat the All Blacks 31-27 in a tense Rugby Championship test in Johannesburg.
In the first match between the teams since the 2023 World Cup final, Codie Taylor put the first points on the board.
Winger Caleb Clarke scored two of the All Blacks' four tries and Jordie Barrett clinched one.
New Zealand was ahead 12-11 at halftime and increased their lead going into the final quarter, to 27-17.
However, after prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi was shown a yellow card, the Springboks rallied to power home in front of a massive, passionate crowd.
Two tries in quick succession, by Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams, put the South African side out in front, where they wound down the clock to finish five points ahead.
New Springbok first five-eighth Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu proved his worth for the home team, kicking 16 points - four penalties and two conversions.
Photo: AFP/Phill Magakoe
"We made sure not to panic and picked ourselves up," Springbok captain Siya Kolisi told Reuters.
"We didn't give up, we've been behind before and we can draw on those experiences."
The atmosphere at Ellis Park was jubilant from the start, with the crowd of 62,000 raising their voices to the heavens during the South African national anthem.
As the All Blacks did the haka, the South Africans mounted an early response in the form of a South African Airways A380 jumbo jet blasting its way over the stadium.
This is the third win in a row in this competition for the Springboks, who beat Australia in Brisbane and Perth.
They will face the All Blacks again in Cape Town next weekend.
