The Springboks vs All Blacks rivalry delivered another dramatic twist on Saturday night as South Africa thrashed New Zealand 43-10 at Sky Stadium. The reigning world champions ran in six tries to inflict their heaviest-ever defeat on the All Blacks and keep the Freedom Cup for a second straight year. The emphatic victory also avenged their loss at Eden Park a week earlier and blew the Rugby Championship title race wide open.

Carter’s Early Spark Fizzles Out

The All Blacks opened brightly. Debutant winger Leroy Carter crossed in the 18th minute after a sweeping attack that moved the ball across seven sets of hands. His try gave New Zealand a 10-7 halftime lead and briefly raised hopes of a classic contest. But Carter’s score turned out to be their only try of the night. The All Blacks failed to breach South Africa’s defence for the remaining 62 minutes, despite periods of possession deep in opposition territory.

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Kolbe Leads Ruthless Springboks Response

Speedster Cheslin Kolbe swung the game with two moments of brilliance. First, he sprinted 60 metres to intercept a pass from Billy Proctor and score under the posts. Then, shortly after halftime, Kolbe stepped inside Carter to touch down again and ignite a second-half onslaught. His double gave South Africa a lead they never surrendered.

Damian Willemse extended the advantage midway through the second spell after a lineout error from New Zealand gifted the Springboks attacking ball just five metres out. Replacement forward Kwagga Smith then grabbed the bonus point try in the 69th minute by finishing off a cross-kick from Manie Libbok to Pieter-Steph du Toit. Two more late tries capped the record win and silenced the home crowd.

All Blacks Crumble Under Pressure

New Zealand’s performance unravelled after halftime. Their scrum buckled at the first engagement of the second half, mirroring the struggles at Eden Park seven days earlier. Basic errors compounded the problem. Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister threw directly to the Springboks at a defensive lineout, while winger Will Jordan lost control of the ball over the line when a consolation try beckoned.

Injury also hurt their rhythm. Returning halfback Noah Hotham left the field inside 10 minutes after a collision with Lood de Jager, who was also forced off. Captain Scott Barrett admitted afterwards that the side failed to adapt. “That’s a tough one to swallow,” he said. “The Springboks showed real improvement from last week and we didn’t adjust. Our scrum was under pressure and they took their opportunities.”

Rivalry Reaches Historic Milestone

The 43-10 scoreline eclipses New Zealand’s previous heaviest defeat to South Africa, a 35-7 loss at Twickenham before the 2023 World Cup. It also reinforces the Springboks’ reputation for punishing mistakes with clinical precision. Coach Rassie Erasmus praised his team’s composure. “We wanted a response after Eden Park and the players delivered,” he said.

For the All Blacks, the loss raises questions ahead of their next challenge. They will have a weekend off before facing the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on September 27. The All Blacks have not lost there in 51 Tests, while Australia’s last win on New Zealand soil came in 2001.

Rugby Championship Blown Wide Open

Argentina’s shock victory over Australia earlier in the day combined with South Africa’s triumph means all four teams remain in the hunt for the Rugby Championship crown. The Springboks vs All Blacks clash has once again shifted the momentum of the tournament. Fans will be eager to see whether New Zealand can rebound or whether South Africa will continue their dominance on the road to another title.

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