Bok youngsters show class in epic comeback victory over All Blacks

Adnaan Mohamed at Ellis Park in Johannesburg

The Springboks showed tremendous resilience, character and fighting spirit by beating the All Blacks in a thrilling Rugby Championship encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday.

With 12 minutes of play remaining, captain Siya Kolisi’s charges where 17-27 behind against a Kiwi team that were in control for most of the game.

Captain Scott Barrett’s team outscored the Boks by four tries to three.

However, it was the home side’s tenacity and refusal to give up which lead to replacement flank Kwagga Smith and scrumhalf Grant Williams’ two late tries that ultimately sealed the victory.

Initially there was a stunned silence from the 62 000 strong crowd when All Black hooker Codie Taylor drove over from a lineout after a period of sustained pressure from the visitors.

Flyhalf Damian McKenzie slotted the conversion from the touchline to put his side into an early 7-0 lead. To make matters worse young fullback Aphelele Fassi was sin binned within a yellow card.

The men in green and gold fought back courageously with Taylor’s opposite number Bongi Mbonambi reciprocating with a controversial five pointer of his own from a lineout mall.

It seemed as if Mbonambi lost control of the ball as he dotted down, but it was debatable that he lost contact with ball. The match officials decided the try was good.

Even though flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted the conversion, the referee disallowed the kick because it was not in the allocated shot-clock time.  As a result the Kiwis retained the lead 7-5 after 15 minutes.

The All Blacks seemed to have the upperhand in the set scrums. Coach Rassie Erasmus decided to bring veteran lock Eben Etzebeth  off the bench in place of  the inexperienced Ruan Nortje as early as the 25 minute to add some much needed fire power to the engine room.

The scrums immediately looked more stable with Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit as a combination in the second row.

On the half-hour mark Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted a 50m penalty to give the Boks the lead the first time in the game. (8-7).

However, the All Blacks immediately hit back after they moved the ball wide to their burly right wing Caleb Clarke  pushed the Kiwis into a 12-8 lead. Another Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty brought the Boks within one point at halftime. (12-11)

This was the final score in last year’s  World Cup final when the South Africa were crowned World Champions at the Stade de France in Paris. The only difference was, that this time the scoreline favoured New Zealand.

Immediately after the break the All Blacks took the ascendency when centre Jordie Barrett scored and intercept try against the run of play to give his side a 9-12 advantage.

The two flyhalves again traded penalties to make the score 22-17.

Coach Scott Robertson’s charges relentlessly piled on the pressure and were rewarded for their efforts when Clarke crossed the chalk for his brace after 51 minutes to extend the lead to 27-17.

At this stage the Boks were chasing the game. They had to dig deep with tries from Smith and Williams to eventually emerge as victors.

For the Boks youngsters Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Fassi in the no. 10 and 15 positions respectively, came of age.

They showed they they are the future of Bok rugby and certainly have the necessary talent, temperament, tactical nouse, and class to perform at the highest level.

Up front Ben-Jason Dixon put in a workmanlike shift on the flank with replacement loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp also looking the part.