The All Blacks extended their proud 31-year unbeaten record at Eden Park in Auckland, edging out South Africa 24-17 in a tense Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash played in slippery, rain-soaked conditions. Once again, it was the Springboks’ sluggish opening quarter that proved costly, as two early tries conceded in the first 17 minutes left them chasing the game.
New Zealand surged ahead 14-0 through sharp execution from set-pieces, punishing South African errors and capitalising on turnovers. Although the Boks fought back bravely—dominating large parts of the final hour and outscoring their opponents 17-10 in that period—the initial damage was too severe to overturn. By halftime the visitors trailed 14-3, and despite a stronger second-half performance powered by the bench, they could not erase the early deficit.
For the Springboks, it was a bitter reminder of the fine margins at the elite level. Dropped passes, disrupted lineouts, and missed tackles in the first quarter undermined their renowned physical dominance. Although intensity and composure returned as the match progressed, the slow start left them with too steep a mountain to climb.
The All Blacks’ opening try came after just one minute. A handling error in midfield gifted the hosts possession, and from the resulting lineout flyhalf Beauden Barrett delivered a clever cross-field kick to Emoni Narawa. The winger outjumped Willie le Roux, controlled the ball, and slid over for the score. Brother Jordie Barrett converted to make it 7-0.
Fifteen minutes later, the scoreboard pressure grew. Another clinical lineout move from New Zealand saw Damian McKenzie—on as an early replacement—spark the attack that led to their second try. He added the conversion to stretch the lead to 14-0 and silence the Boks’ early ambitions.
South Africa responded with a penalty to get on the board, but by the break they trailed 14-3. In the second half, they mounted a spirited comeback, with strong carries from the forwards and fresh energy off the bench. They managed two tries and closed the gap, but the All Blacks’ defensive organisation and game management ensured the gap was never fully bridged.
Ultimately, the Springboks’ inability to absorb pressure in the opening exchanges was decisive. Their improvement in the final 60 minutes showed their quality, but in Auckland, against a ruthless All Black side at their spiritual fortress, gifting a two-try head start proved fatal.