By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Springboks have won the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series 3-1, with a 43-28 victory against the All Blacks in the fourth test in Baltimore in the United States.
The Boks took a 17-14 lead into the break after a first half that lasted almost an hour due to several stoppages, including a lengthy delay caused by a breakdown in communication between the match officials.
Tries from Damian de Allende and Morné van den Berg, converted by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, powered the men in green and gold in front, with All Blacks skipper Codie Taylor and the prolific Will Jordan dotting down for the Kiwis.
The game looked in the balance in the second half after converted tries from Malcolm Marx and Steph du Toit were met by an Ethan Blackadder effort.
However, Kurt-Lee Arendse took his opportunity to race away and score and was quickly followed up by Cameron Hanekom to seal a Springboks win, a Beauden Barrett late try merely a consolation.
New Zealand went 1-0 up after a 33-16 win at Ellis Park, Johannesburg but then the Springboks hit back in the next two Tests. They won 33-26 in Cape Town and followed that up with a close 29-24 win at Soweto’s FNB Stadium.
That meant Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry had a grand finale in Baltimore which saw the Springboks prevail in the first traditional series between the two sides in 30 years. Not only that, it was a victory that marked head coach Rassie Erasmus’ 100th Test in charge.
The Boks now have a week’s break before a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday, 26 September, while the All Blacks next face Australia in the Bledisloe Cup on 10 October.
Springboks – Tries: Damian de Allende, Morné van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Van den Berg, Manie Libbok (2). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
All Blacks – Tries: Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, Beauden Barrett. Conversions: Damian McKenzie (4).