All Blacks rally past Springboks to maintain Eden Park streak
Will Jordan was one of the try scorer for New Zealand
©Steve Haag
New Zealand 24-17 South Africa, Eden Park
New Zealand extended their imperious unbeaten run at Eden Park to 51 Tests with a tense 24–17 victory over South Africa in the Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks struck early, with Emoni Narawa touching down inside the first minute from a pinpoint Beauden Barrett cross-kick—converted by flanker Jordie Barrett. Will Jordan added a second try in the 16th minute, finishing off a 50-22 move by Barrett, and Damian McKenzie added the extras to make it 14–0.
South Africa finally got on the board through Handre Pollard’s 22nd-minute penalty kick. However, the Springboks failed to mount sustained pressure, as the first half ended with a 14-3 lead for Scott Robertson's men.
McKenzie helped the All Blacks get off the block in the second half with an early penalty goal stretching the lead to 17-3 before Malcolm Marx powered over for the Boks from a dominant scrum in the 61st minute, and Pollard’s conversion brought the deficit to seven points.
Momentum seemed to shift further when Kwagga Smith was yellow-carded for a breakdown infringement in the 64th minute, reducing the Springboks to 14 men and the hosts made full use of the numerical advantage with Quinn Tupaea crashing over from a lineout drive, converted by McKenzie to push the score to 24–10.
Just as it appeared New Zealand would run away with the result, Cobus Reinach crossed over in the 73rd minute to narrow the gap to 24–17, following a clever scrum-line push. Yet, in his 100th Test appearance, Ardie Savea made a match-defining turnover in the 79th minute, halting the Springbok assault and sealing the All Blacks’ win.
