South Africa fought back to beat New Zealand 29-24 in a breathless third Test in Johannesburg on Saturday.The victory for the hosts at FNB Stadium gives them a 2-1 lead in the series, branded ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’, before the landmark fourth Test in Baltimore next Saturday.New Zealand won the first Test 16-33 in Johannesburg, before South Africa levelled the series with a 33-26 win last weekend in Cape Town. Saturday’s victory means South Africa, the world’s top-ranked side, cannot lose the series ahead of next weekend’s final Test in the United States.It was the visitors, ranked second in the world, who went ahead in the 11th minute on Saturday, with Asafo Aumua tackled close to the South Africa line before captain Ardie Savea picked up, found a gap and dived over. Ruben Love added the conversion.
The hosts got on the board on 22 minutes, Damian de Allende combining with Kurt-Lee Arendse, who surged over in the corner.The visitors extended their advantage on 26 minutes, Leroy Carter with a turn of pace before Savea collected and scored his second try of the day. The New Zealand captain was forced off with an apparent shoulder injury shortly after.But South Africa ensured the scores were level at half-time after they were awarded a penalty try following a dominant scrum close to the line.New Zealand re-took the lead 15 minutes into the second half, Carter collecting a kick downfield and feeding Will Jordan, who burst into the empty space and over the line. Love, however, failed to convert from a relatively simple angle.South Africa hit straight back as Jesse Kriel shrugged off Carter and drove over the line, before Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to put the hosts ahead for the first time.They extended their advantage with another penalty try as the hosts’ pack continued to exert their dominance, and went further ahead via a Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty 10 minutes from time.Samisoni Taukei’aho reduced the deficit with a try in the final stages and Damian McKenzie added the conversion, but it would not be enough as South Africa secured victory to leave them in pole position heading into the fourth and final Test.
