Springboks and All Blacks to share R129 million profit from Baltimore match

The Springboks team defeated the All Blacks with a score of 29–24 on Saturday at FNB Stadium in Soweto, securing a triumph in the greatest rugby rivalry. Despite a slow start, the world champions managed to increase the pace thanks to their physical strength and dominance during the scrum play. The team's attack was energized by the entry of Mani Leibobok after Cheslin Kolbe's early injury.

This match became a brilliant first victory over New Zealand at this arena and allowed South Africa to take the lead in the series with a score of 2–1. IOL Sport assessed the performance of the winning Springboks team.

The Greatest Rugby Rivalry

Kurt-Lee Arendse (7/10) stood out in the starting fifteen-meter line-up, looking dangerous every time he received the ball in attack, successfully overcoming the defense in several instances and scoring a good touchdown. Jesse Kriel (6) made a couple of noticeable missed tackles that harmed the Boks, and also made a passing error without a defender in front of him, but partially compensated for this with a good solo touchdown.

Damian de Allende (7) set up Arendse's touchdown, demonstrating a brilliant hip maneuver to bypass his opponent, and showed himself as a powerful player in defense. Winger Ethan Hooker (8.5) delivered another outstanding performance, covering almost every meter of the field; his youthful play was characterized by excellent bursts and strong defense.

Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (6) converted several excellent kicks at the posts, including a difficult penalty in variable wind conditions, although he could not fully assert his influence in attack, but played well in defense. Kobus Reinah (5) did not have his best day at the scrum and in the ball contest for the Boks, making several errors that could have changed the course of the game, and his kicks did not yield the desired results.

Jasper Wiese (7) was a player the Boks relied on for forward momentum, even when stationary. He made several heavy breakthroughs and controlled the ball well, leading to a penalty touchdown at the scrum. Pieter-Steph du Toit (7), clearly upset after an early tackle, demonstrated incredible aggression in contact since then, ignoring his own condition or opponents.

Siyabonga Kolisi (7), despite an injury in the first half, continued to play, showing immense strength in breaks and defense. Ruan Nortje (5.5) was reliable in the lineouts, but less noticeable in breaks and defensive actions; he needs to add more physical strength in matches. Eben Etzebeth (5.5) did not show sufficient effectiveness in terms of physical struggle, especially tackling, being knocked down by an All Blacks defender, but remained strong when possessing the ball.

Wilko Louw (7.5) proved to be a force to be reckoned with at the scrums, winning the first penalty for the Boks, after which the team began to dominate the play. He also made several decisive tackles. Malcolm Marx (8) made a major turnover in the second half in the ball contest, allowing for an attacking lineout, and was reliable in lineout throws, which contributed to good rolling mauls from which he scored one.

Ox Nche (7.5) transformed from the left flanker position, preventing Louw from completely dominating the attack, and completely suppressed the All Blacks scrum.

Substitutions

Deon Fourie (6) immediately impacted the ball contest, slowing down the guests' game, and was also strong in defense. Gerhard Steenkamp (6) came onto the field and added more impetus to the front line. Thomas du Toit (6) won several good penalties in the second half and supported the scrum dominance along with other substitutes. Lud de Jager (5) brought necessary physical strength while the Boks were finishing the game.

Andre Esterhuizen (6) broke through two defenders as a hybrid player. Cameron Hanekom (7) brought real physical power with his bursts and tackles, helping the team maintain the tempo. Morne van den Berg (7.5) made a small error in the lineout, but his speed, tenacity in tackling, and attacking instinct played a significant role. Mani Leibbok (8) changed the course of the game by coming on as a playmaker; he gave the team pace and executed an extraordinary pass that allowed the team to remain constantly on the attack.

Morne van den Berg, a Springboks midfielder, emphasized that the team will not focus solely on neutralizing number nine Kam Roigard, but on the entire attacking setup of the All Blacks in Soweto on Saturday.

Despite being aware of the threat posed by Kam Roigard, van den Berg insists that South Africa will not allow their defensive plans against the All Blacks to revolve around one player. In preparation for the crucial third match of the greatest rugby rivalry in Johannesburg on Saturday (starting at 17:00), van den Berg believes that the key to containing Roigard lies not in an individual attack on him, but in implementing the defensive system and applying pressure to the entire New Zealand attack.

The Lions midfielder is ready to contribute from the bench. His tactical insights and quick distribution could be useful for the world champions in the final match on South African soil. Since the series is tied 1-1, the winner of the match at the FNB stadium will gain an undeniable advantage heading into the last match in the USA next week.

Van den Berg noted that Roigard is one of New Zealand's most dangerous attacking players, capable of bringing dynamism and unpredictability to the flanks. He successfully exploited gaps in the first two matches and occasionally troubled the defense. However, van den Berg understands that excessive concentration on one player can open opportunities for other dangerous attacking elements of the All Blacks. He stressed that the approach is to increase overall team pressure, rather than singling out the midfielder as a specific target.

For van den Berg, the encounter with New Zealand is highly significant. It will be his second match against the All Blacks and his first in his hometown of Johannesburg. The 23-year-old athlete grew up watching the Kiwis stars, dreaming of one day meeting them in green and gold. On Saturday, he will have another chance to test himself after the challenge in Cape Town last week.

He also shared his idols: 'As a child, Dan Carter was like a rugby rock star. If you are a child in South Africa, you dream of playing for the Boks against the All Blacks. But I grew up a huge fan of the Lions, Ricky Januarie, his combinations with Andre Pretorius. Then there was Jano Vermaak, and as I got older, Faf de Klerk became a player I truly admired.'

The Springboks team is under serious pressure as they need to defeat the All Blacks in Cape Town to maintain a chance of winning the series. History shows that the Springboks demonstrate the greatest danger when in a difficult position, and all attention is focused on Cape Town before the second match, which South Africa cannot afford to lose.

The All Blacks have gained an unexpected advantage, as they lead the four-match series after their impressive 33-16 victory at Ellis Park last Saturday, putting the Springboks in a position that requires a win to stay in contention.

In the upcoming clash, which will take place at DHL Stadium on Saturday, there will be a new referee—Angus Gardner from Australia, whose appointment was confirmed by World Rugby. Initially, Gardner was scheduled to officiate the third match in Johannesburg next week, but due to the illness of Nicky Amashukeli from Georgia, Amashukeli will now take over Gardner's initial duties in Johannesburg.

For the Springboks, the main focus is on actions between the lines. The team has repeatedly proven its ability to cope with setbacks, learn from them, and respond with play that can change the course of the series or tournament. They demonstrated this against the British Lions in 2021, recovering from a 22-17 loss in the first match and winning the series 2-1.

Past examples are also recalled: in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, they lost to New Zealand in the group stage but subsequently won the Webb Ellis Cup. Four years later, a loss to Ireland in France was replaced by a remarkable run towards a second consecutive World Cup title. Furthermore, last year, after losing to Australia 38-22 at Ellis Park, the Springboks managed to rally and retain the Rugby Championship title for the first time in history.

The ability to move on quickly will be tested again in Cape Town. Prop Thomas du Toit stated that the players deliberately left the Ellis Park defeat behind after careful analysis conducted on Monday. Du Toit noted: 'I think the most important thing for us was to postpone this game and learn lessons as quickly as possible.' He added that the team performed excellently over the last two years, placing each individual game in its own frame and not dwelling on mistakes.

Du Toit emphasized that the team embraced the positive aspects and worked on the worst aspects of the game, saying it was 'so simple'. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the significance of Saturday, noting: 'There is this undertone to what this event represents. However, the reality is that we want to win on Saturday, and what we do during the week will matter.'

The All Blacks team is also well aware of the challenges ahead. Coach Dave Rennie expects the injured Springboks team to play aggressively but warned that New Zealand must also improve its game to repeat the success at Ellis Park. Rennie stated: 'We know the Boks will come out to give their all for a possible comeback. They will obviously be very disappointed after last weekend.' He also mentioned that he is well aware of how the Springboks recovered last year after losing to them in Wellington.

However, Rennie insists that the All Blacks will not simply defend and maintain their 1-0 lead. He believes that the Springboks at peak form are difficult to beat anywhere, but they said they would be better than last weekend. 'We have to raise our level because we know the Boks will be better too. We will mainly focus on what we can bring, rather than entirely on what the Boks can bring.'