South Africa dealt New Zealand their first defeat of the year to level their four-Test series as they ran out 33-26 victors in Cape Town.
The Springboks, over the whitewash in just the second minute, scored all three of their tries in the first half to build a pressure-inducing 24-14 lead by half-time.
Cheslin Kolbe converted them all plus four penalties to keep his side in control on the scoreboard. Kolbe was named the player of the match, having made all 11 of his shots at the posts in the series.
New Zealand scored more tries — four — but struggled against the rush defence, in the breakdowns and line-outs.
The scrum was the primary hotspot in the first Tesr but it was the lin-eout where South Africa made a big difference. Line-out mauls platformed two of their tries, and three attacking throw-ins by the All Blacks were spoiled by Eben Etzebeth, who made one steal.
The teams return to Johannesburg for the third Test next Saturday.
The All Blacks came into the match still perfect under new coach Dave Rennie after wins in four Tesrs and four matches against South African franchises, but they were set back in Cape Town after just 102 seconds.
South Africa mauled a line-out for 15 metres into the New Zealand 22 and forwards Deon Fourie, Jasper Wiese and Siya Kolisi crashed up, before centre Jesse Kriel crashed over beside the posts.
From a midfield line-out, quick hands by New Zealand released winger Will Jordan, who slipped tackles by Kriel and Damian de Allende before putting scrum-half Cam Roigard in.
An offside penalty was slotted by Kolbe, who also converted a try by De Allende that began from another 15-metre line-out maul to give the Springboks a 17-7 lead.
New Zealand’s Jordie Barrett just missed a chargedown try but an Ardie Savea break-off the back of a line-out led to full-back Damian McKenzie angling untouched into the right corner. The gap was back to three again after 30 minutes.
Kolbe made up for a shanked line kick when he chased a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chip and forced a five-metre scrum in the 36th minute.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus immediately replaced Fourie, the oldest Springbok Test player at 39, and loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp with Malcolm Marx, the 2025 world player of the year, and Ox Nche, playing his 50th Test.
New Zealand held but South Africa played quick pick-and-goes and Kolisi busted through to help his side lead 24-14 into half-time.
After the break, New Zealand gave away penalties, including two turnovers by Marx, and Kolbe kicked South Africa 30-14 ahead with 30 minutes to go.
It took New Zealand nearly 20 minutes to reply when winger Leroy Carter darted in. Savea’s 33rd Test try and Love’s extras gave New Zealand a sniff, boosted by a yellow card to South Africa lock Lood de Jager.
But in the final attack after the full-time hooter, Jordan was overturned by South Africa’s Cameron Hanekom.
