For all their possession, power and scrum dominance, South Africa once again left Eden Park empty-handed.
The 24–17 defeat stretched their winless run in Auckland back to 1937, and it was another case of fine margins costing the Springboks dearly. Malcolm Marx and Cobus Reinach both crossed to keep the world champions in touch, while Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende drove the midfield battle. But costly lineout errors, missed tackles, and a yellow-card period proved decisive.
Rassie Erasmus’ side controlled large parts of the contest, edging territory and carrying with intent, yet lacked the clinical edge to finish their red-zone visits. New Zealand’s defensive wall and turnover timing blunted their momentum. With a return fixture looming in Wellington, South Africa must turn pressure into points if they are to flip the script.
Here’s how the players rated in another bruising chapter of this rivalry.
1. Ox Nche 8.5
Anchored a scrum that turned the screw and carried with intent. Five carries for fourteen metres and seven tackles underline a busy night. New Zealand survived his surges, but he kept forcing the picture the Boks wanted. Set the tone and never stepped back.
2. Malcolm Marx 7.5
The finish that dragged South Africa back into it, and the usual menace at contact. Five tackles, eight metres and strong maul craft. A couple of lineout moments went begging, which trimmed his grade, but his presence shifted All Black body language.
3. Thomas du Toit 6.5
Workmanlike and effective in the scrum contest with six tackles to boot. Did not get many chances to dent the line as a carrier, but stayed square at set piece and kept the referee on side. A blue-collar contribution against stubborn resistance.
4. Eben Etzebeth 7.5
Eleven tackles and eleven metres from the engine room. Framed collisions on his terms and forced New Zealand to kick long rather than play through the teeth. His standards are sky high, and this was close to them in a match of inches.
5. Ruan Nortje 6.5
Six tackles and a neat lineout steal that checked New Zealand’s momentum. Felt the speed of the contest at times, but competed hard and stuck his tackles. Another valuable lesson in the craft against elite opposition.
6. Marco van Staden 7.5
A constant irritant for New Zealand. Eleven carries for thirty-six metres and six tackles, plus a turnover. Brought edge to the cleanout and refused to accept slow ball. If the Boks had pinched it, he would be a near man of the match talk.
7. Pieter Steph du Toit 7
Work rate never dipped. Eleven tackles and eleven carries for twenty-two metres with some tone-setting shots. One penalty in an awkward phase, but otherwise a relentless worker across the line and the backfield scramble.
8. Siya Kolisi 6.5
Leadership evident as the visitors rallied late. Six tackles and three carries with one dominant collision. Looked for tempo with hands early in the second half. The match got away from him in the yellow card window, but he kept the group connected.
9. Grant Williams 6.5
Threatened around the edges with five snipes and six tackles. A fumble on a prime platform will haunt him because the Boks were building. Kicking was functional. Reinach’s late spark showed where the game was heading.
10. Handre Pollard 7
Put South Africa on the board and produced a gorgeous fifty twenty-two that flipped the field. Twenty-one running metres and an offload as he tried to unlock the edge. Kicked for territory rather than chaos. Needed a cleaner red zone shape to cash in.
11. Canan Moodie 7
Carried with purpose for twenty-six metres and rattled Beauden Barrett with a shot that reminded everyone of his power. Chased hard, competed in the air and defended his channel. One of South Africa’s best after the break.
12. Damian de Allende 7.5
Heartbeat of the attack and the most reliable tackler. Eleven carries for nineteen metres and twelve tackles speak to a two-way clinic. Won collisions, straightened shape and kept the door shut when New Zealand tested the seam. Big game presence again.
13. Jesse Kriel 8
Five defenders beaten and twenty-two metres with the ball show his constant threat. Nine tackles and a dominant shot in midfield as well. Worked clever angles off Pollard and de Allende. If South Africa finishes two more entries, he is on the highlights loop.
14. Cheslin Kolbe 7.5
Found the one clean break of the South African backs and beat three defenders. Three turnovers lost were costly, but his ambition sparked the late surge and kept New Zealand nervous. Brave under the high ball and busy on kick chase.
15. Willie le Roux 6
Starved of touches in a match that often bypassed the second playmaker. Two metres and a couple of tackles. Tried to shape the width, but New Zealand corralled him and forced him into safer options. Will want the ball in his hands much earlier in Wellington.
Replacements16. Jan Hendrik Wessels 7
Brought snap and bite. One turnover and a dominant tackle while keeping the scrum clean. Impact felt.
17. Boan Venter 6.5
Maintained scrum strength and stayed square at the hit. Quiet in the loose but error-free.
18. Wilco Louw 6
Short stint with one tidy tackle and no set-piece dramas. Did his job.
19. Lood de Jager 6.5
Seven metres and four tackles. Helped settle the maul and added calm to the lineout picture.
20. Kwagga Smith 7
Typical chaos agent. Twenty-six metres and immediate pace at the ruck. The card window around that period hurt the team flow.
21. Cobus Reinach 7
Injected tempo and scored to set up the finish. Smart support lines and crisp service as the Boks chased.
22. Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu 7.5
Cool off the tee and willing to play flat. Twelve metres and an offload. A steadying influence.
23. Ethan Hooker 6
Late cameo without a clean look. Worked hard in the chase and stayed connected defensively.
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