New Zealand beat South Africa to end three-match losing streak

All Blacks' gutsy Rugby Championship win in Johannesburg may save coach Ian Foster his job

New Zealand's centre David Havili (FRONT) is tackled by South Africa's wing Makazole Mapimpi as he scores a try during the Rugby Championship international rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on August 13, 2022. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)

New Zealand's Scott Barrett celebrates with teammates after scoring their fourth try. Reuters

New Zealand players celebrate after their victory against South Africa. AFP

New Zealand's David Havili is tackled by South Africa's Siya Kolisi. AFP

New Zealand's Rieko Ioane is tackled by South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian de Allende and Damian Willemse. AFP

South Africa's Makazole Mampimpi scores his side's second try. EPA

South Africa's Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse. EPA

South Africa's Damian Willemse tackles New Zealand's Jordie Barrett. Reuters

South Africa's Damian Willemse offloads. EPA

New Zealand hooker Samson Taukei'aho scores his side's second try against South Africa. AFP

South Africa centre Lukhanyo Am breaks free to score their opening try. AFP

New Zealand's Fletcher Newell is tackled by South Africa's Makazole Mapimpi. AFP

Caleb Clarke of New Zealand is tackled by South Africa's Lukhanyo Am. EPA

Lukhanyo Am of the Springboks and Richie Mounga of New Zealand battle for the ball. Getty

New Zealand lost a 15-point lead and then produced two tries in the last six minutes to come from behind and beat South Africa 35-23 in the Rugby Championship – and potentially save coach Ian Foster’s job.

New Zealand’s victory was unexpected and gutsy, and it ended a run of three straight losses – and five losses in the All Blacks’ last six Tests – that put Foster on the brink of being fired and rugby’s most successful team under immense scrutiny.

Foster still said he had “no idea” if the win was enough for him to stay as coach.

“I am just going to enjoy tonight,” he said.

The All Blacks had promised this week that they would give everything against the world champions at Ellis Park – one of the toughest places to play – to end that losing run. They were true to their word as they dug deep in the dying minutes after seeing an early 15-0 lead wiped out and the Springboks go ahead by two points at 23-21.

New Zealand launched a length-of-the-field attack, finished off by centre David Havili, to snatch the lead back in the 74th minute while down to 14 men with replacement Beauden Barrett’s yellow card. The All Blacks added another try right at the end through a close-range drive by lock Scott Barrett to secure a deserved win that might have eased the pressure on Foster.

“It has never been a question of how much we care or how much we want it, we just needed to get a few parts of our game right,” New Zealand captain Sam Cane said. “It was a massive challenge coming here … and the group stepped up massively, so hugely proud.

“A massive thank you to everyone who has been supporting us, particularly through the last month which has been pretty challenging.”

Cane and hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored tries in the first half as New Zealand fronted up to the Springboks’ forward pack, gained dominance at the breakdown and got a healthy supply of possession, and were able to attack out wide in a way they couldn’t do in last weekend’s 26-10 loss to the Springboks.

The early surge by New Zealand saw Cane crash over in the right corner in the 28th minute after a sweeping attack to silence 61,000 at Ellis Park. Taukei’aho found his way over in the left corner five minutes later.

New Zealand 42 Ireland 9 - in pictures

Pita Gus Sowakula celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the first Test match in the series between New Zealand and Ireland at Eden Park on July 02, 2022. Getty

Pita Gus Sowakula wins a lineout for New Zealand against Ireland at Eden Park. Getty

New Zealand's Pita Gus Sowakula is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try. AP

Brodie Retallick of New Zealand runs the ball forward. AFP

Ardie Savea makes a break to score a try for New Zealand against Ireland. AFP

New Zealand's Finlay Christi runs at the Ireland defence. AP

Brodie Retallick of New Zealand is tackled by Ireland players. AFP

Angus Ta’avao of New Zealand is tackled during the Test match against Ireland at Eden Park. Getty

James Lowe of Ireland attempts to evade Quinn Tupaea of New Zealand. Getty

Ardie Savea of New Zealand makes a break during the Test match against Ireland. Getty

Pita Gus Sowakula is congratulated after scoring a try for New Zealand against Ireland. Getty

Ireland's Joey Carbery reaches out to score a try which was disallowed. AP

Garry Ringrose of Ireland runs with the ball against New Zealand. Getty

New Zealand's Ardie Savea, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try. AP

Ofa Tu'ungafasi of New Zealand is tackled during the Test match against Ireland. AFP

Ofa Tu'ungafasi of New Zealand runs the ball forward. AFP

Ardie Savea of New Zealand celebrates with Quinn Tupaea (L) and Leicester Fainga’anuku (R) after scoring a try. Getty

Ofa Tu'ungafasi (L) and Brodie Retallick of New Zealand charge forward. Getty

Fly-half Richie Mo’unga kicked that touchline conversion for Taukei’aho’s try in his 15-point haul and rewarded Foster for calling him into the starting line-up with an assured performance as the All Blacks’ playmaker.

South Africa replied with tries by Lukhanyo Am, who was shifted from centre to right wing in the opening 10 minutes after Jessie Kriel was knocked over by a rampaging run by New Zealand’s Caleb Clarke and left with a head injury. Am got one back by breaking through a tackle by Clarke to score just before halftime.

Handré Pollard landed a penalty from inside his own half after the half-time hooter to close it to 15-10. Wing Makazole Mapimpi crossed midway through the second half after having one disallowed a few minutes earlier and Pollard’s boot put the home team 23-21 ahead in the 68th minute, the first time the Boks led.

It was also the only time because of the All Blacks’ bold but composed finish.

“We fought back really well in the second but we slipped up in one moment,” South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said. “We fell asleep and that’s what they can do to you when that happens.”

The game-changing moment came from Rieko Ioane’s break down the left touchline, which took the All Blacks 50 metres downfield before a series of phases ended up with Ioane’s centre partner Havili reaching out and planting the ball on the try line to swing it back New Zealand’s way.

Barrett’s score with a minute to go completed the comeback.

“There’s a few doubters back home but there’s always going to be. We know what we have in this team,” Ioane said.