Springboks win, clinch Rugby series lead

The South Africa Springboks secured a 29-24 victory over the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at FNB Stadium in Soweto, taking an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" series. The win, achieved in front of 87,000 fans, means the Springboks cannot lose the series and will head to Baltimore, USA, for the final Test next week with the chance to claim the inaugural trophy. The match was a fiercely contested battle, with both teams trading blows throughout. New Zealand started strongly, with captain Ardie Savea scoring two first-half tries. The Springboks responded, and a penalty try from a dominant scrum leveled the score at 12-12 by halftime. The second half saw the All Blacks regain the lead through a Will Jordan try in the 56th minute, but the Springboks immediately answered with a Jesse Kriel try to take the lead for the first time. The decisive score came from a powerful driving maul that sent Malcolm Marx over, extending the lead. A late penalty from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu made it a 12-point margin before a consolation try after the final whistle brought the score to 29-24.