The All Blacks have blown a 10-point lead against the Springboks at Ellis Park to lose 31-27 in a typically epic, pulsating Test that will present plenty of talking points for the days ahead, including the performance of the match officials.
The visitors were guilty of throwing away a gilt-edged chance to gain some revenge for their defeat in last year’s World Cup final, but were hamstrung in the final quarter by a yellow card to replacement prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, as the penalties quickly mounted.
There is no doubt the Boks finished the stronger side, but they appeared to benefit from any 50-50 calls by Irish referee Andrew Brace, who was particularly harsh on the All Blacks at the breakdown, without holding the home side to the same standard.
The Boks’ first try to Bongi Mbonambi should also come under scrutiny, because not only did he lose the ball in Jordie Barrett’s tackle, he also appeared to be short of the line. The try was awarded regardless, without any intervention from television match official Brian MacNeice.
As usual, when the traditional rivals meet in Johannesburg, there were wild shifts of momentum, with the All Blacks starting stronger and quickly going up 7-0, thanks to the Codie Taylor’s maul try, before the Boks responded.
The All Blacks outscored their opponents four tries to three, and on the whole, appeared to have the edge on attack and defence, before letting the Boks off the hook in the final quarter.
They will be particularly disappointed they didn’t make more of two attacking lineouts with 15 minutes to go when they led 27-17.
The defeat represents the second loss under new coach Scott Robertson’s reign, but the visitors played with the physicality and desperation to get more out of this Test, pressuring the world champions with a commitment on defence that rattled the hosts.
Left wing Caleb Clarke scored two tries, the first on the end of a flowing counterattack that put the All Blacks up 12-5.
The Boks, who struggled for penetration in the first half, responded with two penalties from first-five Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, before the game caught fire in the second half.
A Jordie Barrett intercept try from halfway straight after halftime, when he correctly predicted how and when Damian de Allende would pass to Siya Kolisi, put the All Blacks out to an eight-point buffer.
After the teams swapped penalties, the lead was out to 10, thanks to Clarke’s second try, the result of a planned lineout play brilliantly finished by the All Blacks’ outside backs, but after McKenzie’s missed conversion and Tu’ungafasi’s yellow card for a maul offence, the wheels started to fall off.
First, replacement flanker Kwagga Smith scored under the posts from close range to narrow the gap to three, then replacement halfback Grant Williams burrowed over for another converted try.
The All Blacks had a chance to reply, with replacement lock Sam Darry hard done by when losing the ball in the tackle in front of the referee, despite not being released as required under the law, and No.8 Ardie Savea was penalised for being offside at a ruck despite appearing to be within his rights to challenge for the ball.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed that penalty from in front, but not much else went right for the All Blacks in the final moments and the writing may have been on the wall from near the start, when referee Brace penalised halfback TJ Perenara for “shouting” at him, when the All Blacks had won an attacking ruck and were looking likely again.
It all means the rich history of Tests between these two nations continues, but this was one that got away for the All Blacks, who must regroup before the second Test at Cape Town next weekend.
Clarke, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane had their moments for the visitors, with loose forwards Ethan Blackadder, Savea and Sam Cane outstanding on defence, as was returning skipper Scott Barrett.
South Africa 31 (Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams tries; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 4 pens, 2 cons) All Blacks 27 (Caleb Clarke 2, Codie Taylor, Jordie Barrett tries; Damian McKenzie 2 cons, pen)
Halftime: All Blacks 12-11
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