South Africa 29–24 New Zealand
South Africa will take a 2–1 series lead to Baltimore after holding off New Zealand 29–24 in a gripping third Test at FNB Stadium in Soweto.
The Springboks recovered from a fast New Zealand start and a 12–5 deficit to draw level at halftime before Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx scored in a decisive second-half spell.
South Africa’s forward power played an important role, particularly around the penalty try and Marx’s driving-maul score, but this was not simply a victory won at the set piece. The Springbok backs repeatedly found ways to turn limited possession into dangerous attacking moments, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Kriel both finishing opportunities created away from the tight exchanges.
New Zealand had considerably more of the ball and produced more line breaks, carries and offloads. South Africa was simply more effective when its opportunities arrived.
Both teams scored four tries.
Watch: South Africa vs New Zealand
Watch the full South Africa vs New Zealand match from FNB Stadium in Soweto.
Savea Gives New Zealand the Early Advantage
New Zealand started with pace and immediately put South Africa under pressure.
Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shown a yellow card inside the opening 10 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, and the All Blacks quickly took advantage.
Captain Ardie Savea crossed for the opening try and Ruben Love converted to make it 7–0.
South Africa then suffered an injury blow when Cheslin Kolbe was forced from the field, with Manie Libbok replacing him.
But the Springboks soon showed that their attacking threat extended well beyond their pack.
Damian de Allende helped unlock the New Zealand defence before Arendse finished the opportunity out wide. Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion, leaving the All Blacks ahead 7–5.
Savea struck again as New Zealand’s broken-field attack caused South Africa problems.
Leroy Carter’s attack down the left created the opportunity, with Savea gathering the loose ball to score his second try and extend the advantage to 12–5.
New Zealand then lost its captain when Savea was forced from the field with a shoulder injury and replaced by Wallace Sititi.
South Africa Finds Its Way Back
South Africa gradually began applying pressure of its own.
New Zealand flyhalf Ruben Love was yellow-carded late in the first half, and the Springboks attacked close to the All Blacks’ line.
This time their scrum provided the breakthrough.
South Africa drove New Zealand backward and was awarded a penalty try, worth an automatic seven points with no conversion required.
That sent the teams into halftime tied at 12–12.
The scoreline reflected an interesting contrast.
New Zealand had looked more expansive and dangerous with the ball, while South Africa had stayed in the contest by making its fewer opportunities count.
Jordan Strikes, Kriel Answers
New Zealand regained the lead after halftime through Will Jordan.
Jordan kicked ahead and the bounce fell perfectly for the chasing Carter. The winger was stopped short but kept the attack alive, allowing Jordan to follow the play and finish the move.
It was Jordan’s 54th Test try.
South Africa’s response demonstrated another side of its attack.
Kriel broke through the New Zealand defence and powered his way to the line. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted and South Africa led for the first time, 19–17.
Kriel’s performance was central to South Africa’s ability to create something from relatively little possession. He finished with two clean breaks and four defenders beaten, while de Allende also played an important role in connecting South Africa’s attack.
That midfield contribution, combined with Arendse’s threat out wide and Libbok’s running after replacing Kolbe, gave the Springboks an attacking dimension that complemented their forward power.
Marx Extends the Lead
The forwards then delivered one of South Africa’s biggest moments.
A powerful driving maul advanced toward the New Zealand line before Malcolm Marx finished the move for South Africa’s fourth try.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted.
His penalty in the 70th minute stretched the lead to 29–17.
New Zealand refused to disappear and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed after the 80-minute mark. Damian McKenzie converted, reducing the final margin to five.
There was no time for another New Zealand attack.
South Africa 29, New Zealand 24.
New Zealand Had the Ball.
South Africa Made It Count.
New Zealand produced more possession, more carries, more breaks and more offloads. South Africa still scored four tries and won the Test.
That is the most revealing statistical contrast of the match. New Zealand made 34 more carries, but gained only 21 more running metres.
The All Blacks’ expansive approach produced 12 clean breaks, 32 defenders beaten and 11 offloads. South Africa finished with five breaks, 21 defenders beaten and only one offload. Yet the Springboks were able to turn far less possession into the same number of tries.
Pressure in the right areas
South Africa spent enough time in New Zealand territory to create pressure without needing to control possession.
The Springboks had a reliable set-piece platform whenever they reached attacking positions.
Scrum pressure produced one of the decisive first-half moments and brought South Africa level before halftime.
Arendse and Kriel supplied the backline threat, while the pack added the penalty try and Marx’s maul score.
New Zealand created more attacking activity. South Africa combined territory, set-piece pressure and sharper conversion of its opportunities to win the moments that mattered.
Standout Numbers From Soweto
Will Jordan
Jesse Kriel
Jordie Barrett
Ardie Savea
Jordan supplied New Zealand’s biggest running numbers, while Kriel turned South Africa’s limited possession into one of the decisive attacking performances of the Test.
Injuries Create Problems Before Baltimore
The physical cost of the match could have an important effect on the final Test.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed after the match that Kolbe suffered a broken jaw, ruling him out of Baltimore.
New Zealand will also be without its captain.
Coach Dave Rennie confirmed Savea will not travel to the United States after the shoulder injury he suffered in Soweto.
Centre Quinn Tupaea also suffered a knee injury and is doubtful.
Both coaches therefore have significant selection decisions ahead of the fourth Test.
Little Separates These Teams
South Africa has now won back-to-back Tests, but the series has become tighter with every meeting. Rassie Erasmus emphasized afterward how little separates the two sides — and the results support that assessment.
The winning margin has fallen from 17 points in the opening Test to seven in Cape Town and just five in Soweto.
Different routes to the same four tries
New Zealand generated more attacking activity. The All Blacks carried more, broke the line more often and kept the ball alive with far more offloads.
South Africa answered differently — with territory, set-piece pressure and enough attacking quality through the midfield and wider channels to turn limited possession into points.
That contrast is what made the third Test so revealing. New Zealand created more moments. South Africa converted enough of its moments to win.
Four tries each. Five points between them.
South Africa leads the series 2–1, but Soweto provided the clearest evidence yet that the difference between these teams is measured in moments, not dominance.
Baltimore Is Next
The fourth and final Test will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 12.
South Africa leads the series 2–1.
A Springbok win or draw would give South Africa the series outright, while New Zealand must win to level it at 2–2.
If the series finishes tied, the unusual two-piece trophy created for the 2026 series will be divided, with each country retaining one half.
After three Tests in South Africa, one of international rugby’s oldest rivalries now moves to the United States.
And despite everything that has happened across the first three matches, the margin between the Springboks and All Blacks remains remarkably small.
FINAL — South Africa 29–24 New Zealand
Halftime — 12–12
Series — South Africa leads 2–1
Next — South Africa vs New Zealand, September 12, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
South Africa 29–24 New Zealand
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