Replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies converted a penalty kick after the hooter as the Springboks beat the All Blacks 31-29 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
A week after being KO’d by a Jordie Barrett goal kick that won the All Blacks the 100th Test between the two countries in the 78th minute (19-17), the Boks got their revenge after Duane Vermeulen won a breakdown penalty in the dying seconds to set up a thrilling end to the Test match and the Rugby Championship.
The battle between the two best teams in the world ultimately came down to the Springboks’ bench making a big impact.
But they laid the foundation early on –in fact, as early as the sixth minute when a superb behind-the-back pass from Lukhanyo Am (after scooping up an All Blacks midfield fumble) to Sbu Nkosi saw Damian de Allende sail over for the first try of the match (5-0).
The two teams then traded penalties, before SA fullback Willie le Roux dropped a restart, allowing Beauden Barrett to stab through a kick for Sevu Reece to catch and sail over in the corner (8-8).
South Africa briefly took the lead in the 23rd minute via a Handre Pollard penalty conversion, after he had missed two earlier attempts at goal.
But missed tackles by Vermeulen, Le Roux and Nkosi saw Beauden Barrett break before finding Rieko Ioane, who then sent Ardie Savea over (15-11).
Seven minutes from half time, Bok fans would have been thinking hier gaan ons alweer when Brad Weber scored off a Bok error from a lineout five metres from the Kiwis’ tryline (20-11).
Pollard then converted a penalty to make it 20-14 at the break.
The Boks, led by a heroic Siya Kolisi, meant business in the second half, with coach Jacques Nienaber sending in a brand-new front row and the duo of Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn.
A Pollard penalty made it 20-17 in the 45th minute, before a Steyn 50/22 kick put the Boks in a great attacking position and Makazole Mapimpi dove over in the left corner in the 52nd minute (22-20).
A Bok penalty five minutes later made it 25-20, before the All Blacks kicked two of their own to take a 26-25 lead.
With three minutes to go, Jantjies kicked a drop goal, but Franco Mostert was penalised at the restart and the All Blacks made it 29-28.
Bok hearts sank again as it looked like yet another close defeat to their rivals, but then Vermeulen won the breakdown penalty and the Boks kicked for touch.
From there the All Blacks were penalised for offside and Jantjies did the rest to seal a memorable 31-29 win.
Springboks – Tries: Damian de Allende and Makazole Mapimpi; Penalties: Handre Pollard (4), Elton Jantjies (2); Drop goal: Jantjies.
All Blacks – Tries: Sevu Reece, Ardie Savea and Brad Weber; Conversion: Jordie Barrett; Penalties: Barrett (4).