Blundering Springboks fight bravely but All Blacks’ Eden Park hoodoo strikes again

The most eagerly awaited rugby match since the 2023 World Cup final proved a damp squib for the Springboks, who delivered a curiously error-strewn performance in a 24–17 defeat to their old foes at Eden Park on Saturday.

To be fair to the Boks, they mounted a spirited second-half comeback, but a dismal opening 40 minutes ultimately proved too costly. After all the pre-match hype surrounding the All Blacks’ Eden Park fortress, the reality is that the Boks have simply become the latest statistic, as the home side extended their unbeaten streak at the venue to 51 matches.

Still, South Africa will head to Wellington for the second Test with some reassurance, having dominated the hosts in the second half.

The All Blacks exploded out of the blocks from the opening whistle, capitalising on a Bok handling error inside the first minute. A tactical kick forced Cheslin Kolbe into an untidy clearance. From the ensuing line-out, the ball was swept across the backline to right wing Emoni Narawa, who brushed past a floundering Willie le Roux to score.

Just two minutes in, it was 7–0. Five minutes later, Jordie Barrett had a chance to extend the lead to 10 after the Boks were penalised for offside, but his penalty sailed wide.

At this point, the heavens opened — and so did the Springboks' penalty count. Under pressure from the fired-up hosts and battling slippery conditions, they were repeatedly penalised by English referee Karl Dickson.

It took 12 minutes before the Boks had their first attacking opportunity in All Black territory, but they made a hash of an open-play line-out maul, leading to a knock-on.

A controversial call from Dickson in the 18th minute had dire consequences. The All Blacks knocked on near halfway, but when the Boks hacked the ball ahead and no advantage materialised, play was inexplicably allowed to continue. The Kiwis countered, and from an attacking line-out, fullback Will Jordan sliced through a gap to score.

At 14–0 inside the first quarter, the signs were ominous.

South Africa did halt the tide briefly with a scrum penalty, which Handré Pollard slotted for their first points. However, his second attempt from 40 metres drifted wide.

Both sides struggled to adapt to the greasy conditions, with Pollard and scrumhalf Grant Williams slipping repeatedly.

Two soft tries and an underwhelming attack left the Boks trailing at the break. The only positives were a dominant scrum — which earned three penalties — and some territory gained. Yet even that was squandered: from an attacking line-out five metres out, Williams fumbled the ball thrown to him off the top. Moments later, Malcolm Marx was penalised for a skew throw after a brilliant 50:22 from Pollard had earned them the same platform.

The Boks started the second half with more purpose. Williams almost capitalised on a scrappy All Black line-out but was held up over the line.

In stark contrast, the hosts’ first foray into the Bok 22 yielded a ruck penalty, which Damian McKenzie converted to make it 17–3.

A frustrating pattern followed: the Boks would build pressure, only to be undone by a handling error or penalty. One such moment came when a support runner was pinged for obstruction deep in the All Black 22.

Finally, just after the hour mark, the Boks broke through. A dominant scrum allowed Kwagga Smith to surge forward, and a few phases later, Marx crashed over. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted, and at 17–10, the game was back on.

But in a coach-killing moment, South Africa botched the restart. Under pressure, Smith was yellow-carded for an infringement close to the line, and the All Blacks capitalised. Quinn Tupaea strolled over beneath the posts, restoring the 14-point gap.

The Springboks refused to give up. Cobus Reinach darted over from close range in the 74th minute, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion made it 24–17, setting up a grandstand finish.

With the Boks pressing hard for a match-levelling score, it was fitting that All Black centurion Ardie Savea had the final say, winning a crucial turnover metres from his own line to seal victory.