South Africa hold off All Blacks fightback to level series

'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series - second Test

South Africa (24) 33

Tries: Kriel, De Allende, Kolisi Cons: Kolbe 3 Pens: Kolbe 4

New Zealand (14) 26

Tries: Roigard, McKenzie, Carter, Savea Cons: Love 3

World champions South Africa delivered a powerful first-half performance as they edged past New Zealand and levelled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series at 1-1 with two Tests to play.

The All Blacks travelled to Cape Town knowing a win would write them into the history books as the first New Zealand team to win back-to-back Tests in South Africa since the 'Incomparables' of 1996.

But South Africa dominated the basics and showed a more clinical edge this week, even though the lively All Blacks again outscored them on the try count by four to three.

New Zealand's fightback ultimately came too late, captain Ardie Savea barging over on 77 minutes to get the game within a score, but on the All Blacks' final attack Boks replacement Cameron Hanekom won a superb turnover that settled the nervy closing stages.

As he did last week, Springboks wing Cheslin Kolbe took on the kicking duties over fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, notching up 18 points in a player-of-the-match performance.

The first series in 30 years between these two mighty rugby nations is shaping into an epic, with the third Test back at altitude in Soweto, Johannesburg next Saturday.

The Springbok team that took the field at the Cape Town Stadium was markedly different to the one originally named by head coach Rassie Erasmus on Monday.

Fly-half Handre Pollard was fit and then injured and withdrawn in the week, while Kolbe was injured and then fit and eventually named on the wing.

On top of that, Erasmus switched around his whole front row in the hours before kick-off, with the starting trio dropping to the bench and vice-versa.

It meant there were five changes in all from the matchday squad announced on Monday and surely would have had the New Zealand management thumbing through the regulations of the tour agreement.

Despite producing a famous rearguard effort in the first-Test victory at Ellis Park, New Zealand boss Dave Rennie warned in the week his side would need to "go deeper" to cope with the inevitable Springbok backlash.

That South African onslaught came from the off.

Hooker Deon Fourie, at nearly 40 the oldest Springbok in history, found his target in the line-out, the South African maul powered into the 22, and lightning fast ball led to centre Jesse Kriel crashing over.

Kolbe added the extras as the world champions made the dream start.

But despite the fast start from the hosts, New Zealand grew into the contest, with referee Angus Gardner, himself a late call-up in place of Nika Amashukeli, presiding over a fast and fluent game.

Damian McKenzie made a clean break which almost put in Will Jordan, and while the Boks killed the ball from the ensuing breakdown, Eben Etzebeth got up to spoil New Zealand's five-metre line-out.

Despite their set-piece issues, the All Blacks came again. Intricate handling freed Jordan, who used his pace and strength to escape down the right and link with the outstanding Cam Roigard. Ruben Love levelled the scores from bang in front.

That score lit a fire in the Springboks, with Kolbe kicking a penalty and Damian de Allende barrelling over after another imposing maul as South Africa showed far more ruthlessness compared to a week ago.

With the Springboks dominating in the basics, the crowd in Cape Town smelt blood as the lead stretched to 17-7.

But with ball in hand, Rennie's crop are reminiscent of the great All Blacks side of old. Savea burst forward from a line-out, and perfect passing gave McKenzie a walk-in.

At 17-14 edging towards half-time the contest was in the balance, before a match-defining sequence just before the interval.

Kolbe forced a five-metre scrum, before which Erasmus brought on two of his strongest scrummagers in Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche, who immediately won a penalty.

From there, another scrum, another penalty advantage, and with the All Blacks back-pedalling captain Siya Kolisi crashed over for South Africa's third try and a 10-point lead after a pulsating first 40.

New Zealand needed to score first in the second half, and they didn't, losing the ball when in Bok territory and then giving away a soft penalty which Kolbe kicked.

The All Blacks were on the ropes, Marx won a breakdown penalty, and Kolbe stretched the lead to 16 points with half an hour to go.

With the second half lacking the fireworks of the first, the All Blacks backs – led by Roigard - desperately tried to drag New Zealand back into the match.

After another McKenzie break led to nothing, some more beautiful handling resulted in Leroy Carter scampering into the left corner, a fabulous finish.

More excellent attacking play released Jordan down the right, and the recycled ball found skipper Savea, who crashed over to cut the gap to seven points with two minutes remaining.

But the Springboks held on, despite lock Lood de Jager being sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle.

Fittingly, it was a breakdown penalty that settled the game, with Hanekom winning the crucial turnover in an area South Africa dominated.

The All Blacks' impressive win in the first Test had temporarily shot them above South Africa in the world rankings, something Erasmus urged his side to rectify.

That they did, and with normal service resumed in the eyes of the Springboks supporters, South Africa travel back to the Highveld with the momentum.

But the All Blacks have played some wonderful rugby in the first two Tests, and will still believe they can join the legends of 1996.

The eyes of the rugby world now turn to Soweto.

South Africa: Willemse; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Hooker; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Reinach; Nche, Marx, Louw, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese

Replacements: Fourie, Steenekamp, Du Toit, De Jager, Esterhuizen, Hanekom, Van den Berg, Libbok

New Zealand: McKenzie; Jordan, Tupaea, J Barrett, Carter; Love, Roigard; Bower, Taylor, Lomax, Holland, Vaa'i, Parker, Jacobson, Savea (capt)

Replacements: Aumua, Numia, Newell, Tuipulotu, Lakai, Preston, Lienert-Brown, Moorby

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)