Match Report: All Blacks v South Africa, Second Test | Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

South African power applied across 80 intense minutes, and a goal-kicking masterclass from wing Cheslin Kolbe, were enough to claim a 33-26 win over the All Blacks at Cape Town, and keep the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series alive.

Catch up on all the action, stats and key moments in our Match Centre,

After losing the first Test at Ellis Park, the South African response was everything expected, and the All Blacks lacked the assurance they had a week earlier.

Kolbe knocked the All Blacks with his four penalty goals, three of them South Africa’s only points of the second half, and three conversions for 18 points, which proved crucial as the All Blacks outscored South Africa in the try count 4-3.

The All Blacks enjoyed 57 percent possession while achieving eight line breaks to five and making 154 carries to 104. But those advantages were reduced by determined South African defence. With New Zealand making 246 passes compared to 93 by South Africa, the Springboks had to make 188 tackles, missing 39, compared to 122 tackles by the All Blacks, with 26 misses.

In contrast, the All Blacks achieved greater parity at the scrum, claiming 100 per cent of their ball while South Africa managed only 75 per cent.

WATCH: Highlights from Cape Town (available in selected territories)

All Blacks surge back late in the game

Despite the revived South African spirit, the All Blacks ended the game with a slight chance to secure a draw.

Four minutes from time, the All Blacks got within seven points. They again had the benefit of getting wing Will Jordan to space for a run at the corner. He was tackled, but the ball was moved back across the field where flanker and captain Ardie Savea was able to score, with support from replacement lock Patrick Tuipulotu driving him over the line.

Into the last minute, replacement lock Lood de Jager was sin-binned for a head-on-head contact on wing Leroy Carter.

In the last act of the game, the All Blacks cleared the ball to near halfway for a lineout, and while probing for openings, a key turnover at a tackle on Jordan by replacement Andre Esterhuizen was enough for the Springboks to get the win.

Clever use of their bench, with the first substitutions made just before half-time when hooker Malcolm Marx was introduced, helped the Springboks freshen their side at key stages through the second half. By comparison, the All Blacks did not get the same benefits from their changes.

South Africa stun the All Blacks early

South Africa made a storming start, scoring in the first minute after employing the power of their lineout maul to take play deep into the 22m area, and when the ball was released for the backs, centre Jesse Kriel cut through to score.

Unsettled, the All Blacks probed for openings at every chance, but it wasn’t until the 15th minute that they were rewarded. From a lineout, the ball was played off the back and moved with both five-eighths Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett using double pumps to draw in the defence before they got the ball to wing Will Jordan, who beat two defenders before passing in to halfback Cam Roigard, who was in support to score.

But three minutes later, the penalty issues that afflicted the All Blacks throughout the game were punished when wing Cheslin Kolbe landed the first of his four penalty goals.

Then, from the restart, the Springboks got back into the All Blacks' 22m area and built their pressure game again with effect, and it was second five-eighths Damian de Allende who scored.

The All Blacks were more settled and built their chances. Again, off a lineout move, No8 Ardie Savea charged onto a ball from Roigard to run into space. The All Blacks worked the ball through the line where and fullback Damian McKenzie used his speed to run in the try.

With three points between the sides, it wasn’t until three minutes from half-time that, under penalty pressure, the Springboks extended their lead when, from a lineout play, they worked the ball across the field for skipper and flanker Siya Kolisi to run in the try and secure a 24-14 advantage.

That was further extended when Kolbe landed penalty goals in the 48th and 50th minutes.

Crossing the 60-minute mark, the All Blacks produced some of their best continuity play; a 14-phase play and a resulting penalty took them close to the line, only for lock Eben Etzebeth to steal the lineout for South Africa to clear.

However, a well-taken Springboks box kick was taken by Jordan, who ran ahead to set up the ruck which the All Blacks used to move the ball back across the field, and on the end of the line wing Leroy Carter was given room to wind up his sprint and race his way over for a 65th-minute try.

Match Score Sheet

South Africa 33 (Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi tries; Cheslin Kolbe 3 con, 4pen) New Zealand 26 (Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Ardie Savea tries; Ruben Love 3 con). HT: 24-14

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