Jesse Kriel powered through Leroy Carter to score the decisive try as South Africa fought back to beat New Zealand 29-24 in the third Test in Johannesburg.
The Springboks had fallen 17-12 behind after Will Jordan crossed for the All Blacks, but Kriel responded almost immediately, shrugging off Carter’s attempted tackle before racing over the line. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the conversion to put the hosts ahead for the first time.
South Africa then seized control through their dominant forward play. Malcolm Marx finished a powerful rolling maul to extend the lead, before another Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty gave the Springboks a 12-point advantage.
New Zealand scored late through Samisoni Taukei’aho, but the All Blacks could not complete the recovery. The result gives South Africa a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series and ensures they cannot lose the contest.
Dave Rennie, the New Zealand head coach, defended Carter after the costly defensive error, saying: “I feel for Leroy. He’s a good man, he’s a very good defender, I’m sure he’s hurting about that.”
The series will conclude with a fourth Test at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, September 12.
