As it happened: All Blacks thrilling victory over Springboks in Rugby Championship finale

Alex Broun 01:07 07/10/2018
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  • The All Blacks celebrate after the miracle in Pretoria

    The All Blacks came from 17 points down with 18 minutes to play to pull off an extraordinary 32-30 win over the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in a thrilling Rugby Championship finale.

    Here’s how the match unfolded:

    3mins: The All Blacks too eager at the ruck and are caught offside, and Handre Pollard lines up a long range penalty. He lands it from 50 metres and South Africa lead 3-0.

    11mins: Faf de Klerk clashes with Waisake Naholo after a dangerous clean out from Scott Barrett on Eben Etzebeth. The Boks get the penalty and go for the corner. They set up a lineout five metres out. The All Blacks hold on but South Africa get another penalty. Pollard puts it over from straight in front, South Africa lead 6-0.

    24mins: The All Blacks get back-to-back penalties and seek to relieve constant pressure with Beauden Barrett taking a long range shot from wide out on the halfway line. And he lands it!  All Blacks trail 6-3.

    Jesse Kriel powers away to score the game's first try

    Jesse Kriel powers away to score the game’s first try

    27mins: Another penalty and New Zealand are five metres out. They look certain to score but the Springboks trap the ball in a maul and earn a penalty. The All Blacks blowing up about what they saw as a penalty against Pieter-Steph du Toit for a slow retreat.

    35mins: Francois Louw gives up a penalty for going straight over the top at a ruck and Beauden Barrett has a chance to even things up. There’s a delay while Sam Cane is taken off for an HIA. (He does not return with Ardie Savea taking his place.) Barrett lands the attempt and the All Blacks will be delighted to see the score at 6-6 after being outplayed for much of the first half.

    40mins: The Boks put together 15 phases in the All Blacks red zone but superb defence holds them at bay. South Africa get the ball back from a turnover and have one last chance but the ball is lost by Steven Kitshoff. Aaron Smith boots it into touch. Halftime.

    41mins: Malcolm Marx wins an important turnover to diffuse an early All Blacks attack. But then loses the lineout with a crooked throw.

    43mins: Great try to the Boks. From a clearing kick Willie Le Roux launches a counter attack. Great runs from Siya Kolisi and then another from Le Roux sees the ball comes wide to Jesse Kriel. He has Aphiwe Dyantyi on his outside but doesn’t need him as he shrugs off two and outpaces Aaron Smith to score. Pollard converts from wide out and South Africa lead 13-6.

    46mins: A slick All Blacks move that usually cuts defences to ribbons but the Boks defend it superbly – and then win a penalty for holding on. Pollard goes for another long range shot from halfway and its there. South Africa lead 16-6.

    50mins: Du Toit goes straight through an All Blacks tackler and is stopped just a metre out. De Klerk goes wide but passes straight to the camera man.

    52mins: Another try to the Springboks. Once more a poor clearing kick, this time from Richie Mo’unga. Kolisi goes through some threadbare All Blacks defence and offloads to Damian de Allende who strolls over. Pollard converts. South Africa lead 23-6.

    55mins: But in an instant the All Blacks are in. Codie Taylor makes a break and then a superb switch pass to Aaron Smith who sprints away. (The pass looks forward but TMO says okay.) Mo’unga converts. South Africa lead 23-13.

    Aaron Smith scored the All Blacks first try

    Aaron Smith scored the All Blacks first try

    59 mins: The Boks attack from a five metre scrum. The ball comes wide to Kolbe who seems to be stopped just short but the TMO says the ball has scraped the white line. Pollard converts from wide-out. South Africa lead 30-13.

    62mins: The Boks make a mistake from the kick off and the All Blacks are in again. They drive it from a lineout then go wide with a long ball finding Rieko Ioane in space outwide. Mo’unga misses the conversion. South Africa lead 30-18.

    66mins: The All Blacks make another big mistake. Ioane takes the ball in his own 22 from a kick and passes across field to Beauden Barrett. But its forward! The Boks go on the attack from the scrum and Pollard looks certain to score but a superb covering tackle cuts him down. A try saver that could be a match saver.

    75mins: The All Blacks hanging in there. They bombard the Boks line and Scott Barrett squirms over after 11 phases. Mo’unga lands it and the All Blacks are five points behind. South Africa lead 30-25

    79mins: Incredible. The All Blacks win a turnover penalty. Mo’unga catches the Boks sleeping and kicks the penalty touch finder 60 metres down field and it bounces into touch just five metres out. The All Blacks win the lineout and besiege the line. Ardie Savea dives over and scores are level. Mo’unga converts and the All Blacks win 32-30.

    Aphiwe Dyantyi is left stunned after the heart breaking loss

    Aphiwe Dyantyi is left stunned after the heart breaking loss

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