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Live sport on SN this weekendAll Blacks stun world champion Springboks at Ellis Park
AP • August 23rd, 2026 6:08 am
Will Jordan ploughs over for one of his two tries in New Zealand's win over the Springboks | Photo: EPA
New Zealand have stunned South Africa, hammering the world champions 33-16 at their Ellis Park stronghold to draw first blood in their historic four-Test 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series in Johannesburg.
After surviving a ferocious first half on Saturday (Sunday NZT) to trail only 13-12, the All Blacks' deep belief and ability to produce something from nothing turned a tense contest into a rout by five tries to South Africa's one.
Man-of-the-match Will Jordan extended his run as New Zealand's record try scorer with two more, bookending scores from Josh Moorby, Fabian Holland and Luke Jacobson. Ruben Love kicked over four conversions.
South Africa's lone try came from Andre Esterhuizen with three penalties and a conversion from Cheslin Kolbe.
An attritional contest was always on the cards and it proved a slugfest at times as South Africa looked to impose their physicality -- but the All Blacks took them on toe-to-toe and emerged with a deserved win.
A scrum that was blown away in the first half eventually held firm in the second half and was the platform for New Zealand's final two tries in the last quarter.
The much-hyped four-Test series got off to a traditional start with the All Blacks' haka | Photo: EPA
South Africa paid for failing to take their many chances when they had New Zealand on the ropes in the first half.
So their 12-Test winning streak, which began by handing New Zealand their heaviest ever defeat, 43-10, in Wellington 11 months ago, was comprehensively ended.
The Springboks scrum was better than advertised until props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw were substituted.
An overconfidence in the set-piece made South Africa dismiss the chance of taking numerous kickable penalties at altitude to try and bury the All Blacks with tries.
But a backline that struggled to string any passes was easily corralled, putting too much on the likes of forwards Jasper Wiese, Malcolm Marx and Paul de Villiers to produce something.
It was a great triumph for All Blacks coach Dave Rennie | Photo: EPA
When New Zealand, coached by former Wallabies' mentor Dave Rennie, returned the pressure in the second half, South Africa gave away two yellow cards in the span of a minute and finished with 13 men.
The tension in a packed Ellis Park deflated in the last 10 minutes as Springbok supporters realised a comeback wasn't possible.
The series now moves to sea level in Cape Town next Saturday and New Zealand are the surprising front-runners in the first full series between the teams in 30 years.
