Greatest Rivalry Series – third Test

South Africa (12) 29

Tries: Arendse, penalty try, Kriel, Marx Cons: Mngomezulu 2 Pens: Mngomezulu

New Zealand (12) 24

Tries: Savea 2, Jordan, Taukei’aho Cons: Love, McKenzie

South Africa eventually overpowered a spirited New Zealand, who could only outrun their hosts’ set-piece power for so long, as the world champions came on strong in the final quarter in Soweto to take a 2-1 lead in a high-quality ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series.

The two sides traded two tries each in a tight first half, with New Zealand’s composure and ambition with ball in hand stretching South Africa’s onrushing defence.

The All Blacks sniffed a famous victory when Will Jordan chased after his own kick ahead and crossed for a 17-12 lead in the 55th minute.

But, shortly after, Jesse Kriel barged through Leroy Carter to cross at the other end and, reprieved, South Africa took full advantage.

Malcolm Marx plunged over at the back of juggernaut maul and a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty gave South Africa a cushion that Samisoni Taukei’aho’s final-play try could dent, but not fully deflate.

The two teams will meet in a fourth and final Test in the American city of Baltimore next weekend, with New Zealand, who won the opening match, looking to snatch a draw in the series.

With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi calling on his team to honour those who died in nearby Soweto during the fight against apartheid, and national pride stung by New Zealand coach Dave Rennie’s criticism of their scrum technique, Soccer City was braced for a fast start by the hosts.

New Zealand’s smarts initially defused the fire and fury inside the cauldron, however.

After a brave Peter Lakai turnover had halted South Africa momentum, Will Jordan streaked clear to switch play to the other 22.

South Africa fly-half Feinberg-Mngomezulu was shown yellow for knocking down Ardie Savea’s offload and, from the resulting penalty, the All Blacks rolled round the back of a short-range line-out, clearing room for Savea to sweep through some under-staffed fringe defence and score.

With Cheslin Kolbe, with a perfect goal-kicking record so far in the series, having departed with a head knock, South Africa had taken a dent to their confidence, as well as the scoreboard.

New Zealand had ducked and dived to minimise the effect of South Africa’s set-piece supremacy.

Fast strikes from hooker Asafo Aumua had got the ball away from a fast-retreating scrum, while trick plays and the addition of Lakai as a jumping option kept South Africa from competing successfully at the line-out.

South Africa built momentum regardless though and All Black discipline frayed as Damian de Allende shrugged off Carter and fed Kurt-Lee Arendse to score in the 21st minute after a string of penalty offences from the away side.

New Zealand pulled back 12-5 ahead soon after with the agility and speed of second rows Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa’i buying territory and Savea on hand to scoop up and scoot over following Arendse’s tackle on Carter out wide.

It is impossible to keep the South Africa’s coshing scrum power out of the game, however.

Rennie had accused South Africa’s front row of ‘walking around’ their opposite numbers in their second Test win in Cape Town last weekend. Marx, Wilco Louw and Ox Nche duly took route one, ploughing through the All Blacks front row to force a penalty try and ensure parity at half-time.

While another Test awaits in the United States, the sense of an unofficial series being on the line was tangible.

New Zealand have won on South African soil only once before, when the Incomparables of 1996 returned with a 2-1 victory.

Fly-half Ruben Love missed a long-range shot at goal after the interval with the stakes suffocatingly high.

Jordan’s try, from Carter’s pop off the floor, briefly opened up scoreboard space on 55 minutes, but South Africa edged ahead for the first time two minutes later as Kriel shrugged off a soft tackle and scampered in.

The hosts took a 19-17 advantage into the final quarter and, with the All Blacks lacking Savea’s leadership after their captain was forced off with a shoulder injury in the first half, the Boks landed a knockout blow in familiar fashion.

Scrum pressure forced New Zealand replacement Fletcher Newell to his knees, the Springboks punted the resulting penalty into the 22m and a monster maul rumbled infield and forward with Marx crashing over.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras for a 26-17 lead and slotted a 70th-minute penalty to push the lead out to 12 points.

The 85,976-strong crowd went through their celebratory songbook, dusting off their Cranberries-inspired ode to head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Taukei’aho’s try was too little, too late to change the tune of the contest, but the rest of the rugby world will take heart from how hard his side have pushed the Springboks in all three of their meetings.

South Africa: Kolbe; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Hooker; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Reinach; Nche, Marx, Louw, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi, PS du Toit, Wiese

Replacements: Fourie, Steenekamp, T du Toit, De Jager, Esterhuizen, Hanekom, Van den Berg, Libbok

New Zealand: McKenzie; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Carter; Love, Roigard; Bower, Aumua, Lomax, Vaa’I, Darry, Lakai, Jacobson, Savea

Replacements: Taukei’aho, Numia, Newell, Holland, Sititi, Preston, Lienert-Brown, Moorby