South Africa made a storming start, scoring in the first minute after employing the power of their lineout maul to take play deep into the 22m area, and when the ball was released for the backs, centre Jesse Kriel cut through to score.
Unsettled, the All Blacks probed for openings at every chance, but it wasn’t until the 15th minute that they were rewarded. From a lineout, the ball was played off the back and moved with both five-eighths Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett using double pumps to draw in the defence before they got the ball to wing Will Jordan, who beat two defenders before passing in to halfback Cam Roigard, who was in support to score.
But three minutes later, the penalty issues that afflicted the All Blacks throughout the game were punished when wing Cheslin Kolbe landed the first of his four penalty goals.
Then, from the restart, the Springboks got back into the All Blacks’ 22m area and built their pressure game again with effect, and it was second five-eighths Damian de Allende who scored.
The All Blacks were more settled and built their chances. Again, off a lineout move, No8 Ardie Savea charged onto a ball from Roigard to run into space. The All Blacks worked the ball through the line where and fullback Damian McKenzie used his speed to run in the try.
With three points between the sides, it wasn’t until three minutes from half-time that, under penalty pressure, the Springboks extended their lead when, from a lineout play, they worked the ball across the field for skipper and flanker Siya Kolisi to run in the try and secure a 24-14 advantage.
That was further extended when Kolbe landed penalty goals in the 48th and 50th minutes.
Crossing the 60-minute mark, the All Blacks produced some of their best continuity play; a 14-phase play and a resulting penalty took them close to the line, only for lock Eben Etzebeth to steal the lineout for South Africa to clear.
However, a well-taken Springboks box kick was taken by Jordan, who ran ahead to set up the ruck which the All Blacks used to move the ball back across the field, and on the end of the line wing Leroy Carter was given room to wind up his sprint and race his way over for a 65th-minute try.