Ellis Park ecstasy: Springboks blitz All Blacks late in comeback victory

Ellis Park made for a raucous setting for the first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks of 2024, and both sides lifted under the intense pressure.

An all-time classic contest was witnessed by the Johannesburg faithful, but the Springboks would have to endure a deficit for the majority of the opening hour before a final quarter blitz brought home the win for the hosts.

A breakdown infringement from South Africa 30 seconds in handed the All Blacks a lineout on the 22, and the visitors launched a multi-phase attack, twice getting the ball wide to the right flank with space but twice the Springboks’ defence was up to the challenge, eventually showing Ardie Savea the touchline.

Play wouldn’t leave the hosts’ 22 though as another penalty was followed by a yellow card to Aphelele Fassi.

With the one-man advantage, the All Blacks went to the lineout drive and rumbled over for the first points of the game seven minutes in. Damian McKenzie added the extras.

South Africa’s kick-off went out on the full and New Zealand’s ensuing scrum saw TJ Perenara nail a 50-22, but South Africa’s defence defused the play once more.

Finally, in the 11th minute, the hosts had a chance to attack just outside the All Blacks’ half and a deceitful play saw Cheslin Kolbe go within a whisker of a line-break. A few phases later a clever grubber from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu saw Kurt-Lee Arendse go within a whisker of scoring – were it not for Will Jordan recovering the kick ahead.

The Springboks then set up camp in New Zealand’s half and forced multiple penalties, with the third lineout drive of the play seeing Bongi Mbonambi power over the line. The effort went unconverted.

The All Blacks looked to get the ball wide via both pass and kick but the Springboks scrambled well on each occasion, although surrendering some metres in the process.

The period of Kiwi attack was ended in the 24th minute by a kick that went out on the full from Beauden Barrett. After 25 minutes, Eben Etzebeth entered the contest.

A breakdown penalty won by South Africa saw Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu step up to the tee just shy of the 60-metre line. The kick sailed through the air and made it comfortably over the post, handing the hosts a one-point lead.

It would be a short-lived lead, as a perfectly played draw and pass from Tyrel Lomax in midfield put his outsides in space, resulting in a try to Caleb Clarke down the left wing. McKenzie couldn’t find his target that time around.

The Springbok scrum started to find ascendency as the half wore on, getting the hosts on the front foot and helping Feinberg-Mngomezulu get another shot at three points – this time, from a much friendlier distance. The New Zealand lead was swiftly cut to one.

A missed drop-goal attempt from Feinberg-Mngomezulu looked to bring a rapid first half to a close, but Beauden Barrett found the touchline seconds too early, handing South Africa what would be an ultimately unsuccessful final shot at the lead. Halftime score: 11-12.

Jordie Barrett offered the All Blacks a dream start to the second half with an intercept that sparked a foot-race to the line. With All of South Africa’s speedsters hot on his tail, the centre just made it to the line and McKenzie converted.

The Springboks responded immediately with pace and fury with the ball, pressing deep into All Blacks territory before winning the breakdown penalty and being rewarded with the three points via Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s boot.

The hosts then conceded a breakdown penalty directly off the kick-off, allowing Damian McKenzie to reinstate the eight-point lead.

The immense physicality of the game began to take a toll on the players as the 50th minute beckoned, and after some injury stoppage time, Feinberg-Mngomezulu got another crack at the posts and converted.

The Kiwis looked to have made an error with a long contestable kick landing in the waiting arms of Aphelele Fassi in the 22, allowing the fullback to take the mark. However, a poor clearance handed the visitors an attacking lineout from just outside the 22.

Again, the ball was put through the hands until Caleb Clarke got his hands on the ball in space on the wing and found his way to the try line once more.

Two errors from the All Blacks’ back three in quick succession meant the team struggled to exit their territory and the Springboks’ scrum had a chance to do some damage out in front of the posts. New Zealand’s reserve prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi was up to the challenge though.

The Springboks looked to double down on some territorial pressure as the game entered its final quarter but relieved any pressure built with ill-discipline. On the flip side, the hosts’ defence was again up to the task of defusing the ensuing attacking opportunity from New Zealand, making their way back into their opponents’ half through some Aphelele Fassi magic.

After a brutal battle of a lineout drive, Ofa Tu’ungafasi was yellow-carded and the Springboks went straight back to their forward game. Two phases after another drive, Kwagga Smith powered over the line under the posts. The hosts’ deficit was reduced to three with 10 minutes remaining.

The Springbok onslaught continued as the hosts earned gruelling metres into the All Blacks’ half the hard way, and a magnificent impact performance from Grant Williams was capped with a try that shifted the lead in the world champions’ favour. The conversion made it 31-27 with five minutes remaining.

Bone-crunching play followed as desperation doused the Ellis Park field, but with every heart-pounding moment, the Springboks looked more likely to cement their win. Wasting no time, on the stroke of full-time, Williams found the touchline and ended a famous contest. Full time score: 31-27.