Springboks level series with 33-26 win over All Blacks

The Springboks leveled their four-Test series against the All Blacks with a hard-fought 33-26 victory at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The win, secured in front of a home crowd, evens the "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" series at 1-1 after New Zealand had taken the opening Test in Johannesburg the previous weekend.

A standout performance from Cheslin Kolbe was central to the result. The winger, a late inclusion in the matchday squad after recovering from a knock, was named Man of the Match. He contributed 18 points through a flawless kicking display. Kolbe praised his teammates for their response to the prior week's disappointment. "Last week we slipped one and we could just feel the mood this week from the South African fans," he said. "Whenever we put on this jersey, we just want to do them proud, the jersey proud, our families proud."

The victory was a testament to the team's adaptability, as head coach Rassie Erasmus made several significant changes to the starting lineup less than an hour before kickoff. In a surprise move, the originally named front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Wilco Louw was benched, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie, and Thomas du...