South Africa v New Zealand: Springboks lead at half-time in second Test in Cape Town
In the second of a four-Test series in Cape Town, South Africa led New Zealand 17-7 midway through the first half, looking to bounce back from last week's heavy loss in Johannesburg.
Match action
A sell-out crowd of around 55,000 packed the DHL Stadium (formerly Newlands) in Cape Town on Saturday as the world's top two ranked teams, South Africa and New Zealand, met in the second Test of their four-match series. The hosts struck early, with Jesse Kriel scoring after just two minutes (converted by Cheslin Kolbe) to make it 7-0. New Zealand hit back in the 16th minute through Cam Roigard, finished after a break from Will Jordan; BBC credits Ruben Love with the conversion, levelling the score at 7-7. South Africa retook the lead with a Kolbe penalty in the 19th minute (10-7), before Damian de Allende powered through two tacklers to score in the 23rd minute, converted again by Kolbe to make it 17-7 in the hosts' favour around the 25-minute mark.
Background
This is the second of four scheduled Tests between the sides. Last weekend in Johannesburg, New Zealand claimed a commanding 33-16 win — South Africa's heaviest defeat under coach Rassie Erasmus. A win for the All Blacks in Cape Town would make them the first team since the 1997 British and Irish Lions to win consecutive Tests against the Springboks on South African soil. The two nations have met 111 times overall, with New Zealand winning 64, South Africa 43, and four matches drawn.
Team changes
South Africa made several changes ahead of the match, including an entirely new front row (Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw). According to NZ Herald, the changes also included the return of Siya Kolisi as captain. New Zealand were forced into two injury changes, with prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord ruled out under concussion protocols and replaced by George Bower and Simon Parker, with Tupou Vaa'i shifting to lock. Australian referee Angus Gardner took charge after originally appointed official Nika Amashukeli fell ill; Amashukeli will instead referee the third Test in Johannesburg next week.
What was said
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea warned before kick-off that South Africa would be a "wounded beast": "We understand the threat... when you lose, everything is amplified." Head coach Dave Rennie said he expected a strong response from the hosts and would happily take even a one-point win. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi struck an optimistic tone, recalling that his side had recovered from a first-Test loss before — most notably against the British and Irish Lions in 2021, when they won the series after losing the opening match.
