New Zealand secured a statement victory over South Africa, winning 33-16 in the first Test at Ellis Park on Saturday. The All Blacks scored five tries to the Springboks' one, with Will Jordan touching down twice, marking their first win at the Johannesburg venue since 2022.
All Blacks withstand scrum pressure to claim first blood
The match was a physical contest, with South Africa dominating the scrum for large periods. However, New Zealand's defensive resilience and clinical finishing proved decisive. The All Blacks weathered a sustained period of pressure near their own line early in the second half, keeping all 15 players on the field, while South Africa's inaccuracy in the New Zealand 22 proved costly.
South Africa's handling was uncharacteristically poor, with several scoring opportunities wasted inside the All Blacks' 22. Malcolm Marx was the most culpable, knocking on just short of the tryline, though Jordie Barrett's defensive effort forced the error. The Springboks' powerful runners, led by No 8 Jasper Wiese, and their ruthless scrum provided a platform in the middle 40 minutes that would have brushed aside most teams, but New Zealand survived before taking their chances.
Five tries seal revenge for Wellington defeat
New Zealand's five tries came from Jordan (two), Josh Moorby, Fabian Holland, and Luke Jacobson. Three of those scores came in the right corner, targeting scrum-half Grant Williams' position, a clear pre-planned strategy. Ruben Love converted four of the five tries.
The victory was some revenge for the All Blacks, who had lost 43-10 to South Africa in their last meeting in Wellington. It also marked a flying start for Dave Rennie's side, 30 years after Sean Fitzpatrick led New Zealand to a first series victory in South Africa.
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe kicked three penalties, and André Esterhuizen scored their only try, powering through Josh Moorby in the first half. The Springboks had two players sin-binned late in the game – Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach – for infringements near their own line.
South Africa's accuracy questioned after defeat
South Africa's profligacy in the New Zealand 22 should be of more concern to coach Rassie Erasmus and his assistants, given their status as the world's leading side. The pre-match talk had centred on pace, with New Zealand wanting a fast game and South Africa supposedly looking to slow it down, but as the match showed, tempo matters little if you cannot catch the ball.
The first half was stop-start, with injuries and ill-discipline keeping referee Matt Carley busy. New Zealand were first to cross the tryline through Jordan, finishing in the right corner past Williams. Kolbe had kicked South Africa into a 3-0 lead, and the Boks went back in front when Esterhuizen, on after 10 minutes for the injured Kurt-Lee Arendse, powered through Moorby. Moorby atoned with a sharp finish, gathering a delightful offload from Tupou Vaa'i for New Zealand's second try, but another Kolbe penalty edged the Springboks back in front on 26 minutes.
South Africa turned the screw thereafter but wasted three visits to the All Blacks' 22. The second half began in similar fashion, with Kolbe extending the lead with another penalty, but Holland charged down Williams at the restart and scored the simplest of tries. The Springboks responded with another scrum barrage, but their inaccuracy again let them down, and Carley awarded a scrum penalty to the All Blacks on their own line, alleviating the pressure. Soon after, Jacobson scored from close range after a scything run from Damian McKenzie, and Love converted for a 10-point lead.
By the end, South Africa were desperate, unable to get on the right side of Carley, and the sin-binnings of Van Staden and Reinach completed a disintegration. Jordan's second try, again out on the right, put the exclamation mark on a thoroughly deserved victory for New Zealand, who now lead the series 1-0 with two Tests remaining.
