The Springboks lost their third successive match when they were beaten 19-17 by the All Blacks in a Rugby Championship encounter in Townsville on Saturday morning.
The Boks went to the All Blacks match following back-to-back losses to the Wallabies.
The All Blacks scored their try in the third minute by winger Will Jordan following hooker Codie Taylor’s great move.
It took the Boks only three minutes to reply through Sbu Nkosi’s try. Nkosi pounced after George Bridge failed to field Faf de Klerk’s high kick. Handre Pollard missed the conversion.
The Boks took an 8-7 lead when Pollard converted a penalty in the 11th minute.
Match referee Luke Pearce penalised the All Blacks again and Pollard added three more points to make it 11-7 for the Boks.
The match became a see-saw affair with the Boks having an upper hand. However, it was the All Blacks, who were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Jordie Barrett in the 31st minute.
Pearce yellow carded Nkosi for a deliberate knock down and Jordie Barrett succeeded once again giving the All Blacks a 13-11 lead in the 36th minute.
The Boks regained the lead in the 58th minute after Pollard’s converted penalty. But their lead was short-lived as the All Blacks were awarded yet another penalty and Jordie Barrett made no mistake converting it on the 61st minute.
Coach Jacques Nienaber’s charges regained the lead again when Pollard converted a penalty after the All Blacks were penalised for an offside in the 67th minute.
Jordie Barrett’s trusted boot converted another penalty in the 78th minute and that earned the All Blacks the win.
