Springboks Third Test: South Africa Beat New Zealand 29-24
South Africa 29–24 New Zealand | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, 5 September 2026
The Springboks lead Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2-1 with one Test remaining, in Baltimore on 12 September.
FULL TIME — 5 September 2026: The Springboks third test was the one Rassie Erasmus needed most, and for an hour it looked like slipping away. South Africa beat New Zealand 29-24 at an electric FNB Stadium to move 2-1 up in the series, but they had to come from behind to do it.
Springboks Third Test: How the Comeback Happened
The two sides were locked at 12-12 at half-time in Soweto, a tense, error-strewn opening that gave little indication of what followed. New Zealand then took control, going ahead 17-12 in the 56th minute and looking the more composed side with under twenty-five minutes to play.
South Africa’s response in that final quarter was the difference between the two teams all series. The hosts outscored the All Blacks in the last twenty-five minutes to close out a 29-24 win, the second time in three Tests that a South African fourth quarter has decided the outcome of this rivalry.
The win carried personal history for the Springbok captain, too. Siya Kolisi’s 54th Test victory as skipper equalled John Smit’s all-time record for a South African captain — reached, fittingly, in the match his side had to fight hardest to win.
What the Result Means for the Series
This Springboks third test result means South Africa cannot lose Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. At 2-1 with one Test to play, the worst outcome left for the Springboks is a drawn series if New Zealand win in Baltimore on 12 September — they cannot finish the tour behind on Tests. For Dave Rennie’s All Blacks, Baltimore is now a must-win match to salvage a share of the series after two away defeats in South Africa.
It is a striking turnaround from three weeks ago. New Zealand won the series opener at Ellis Park, also in Johannesburg, and looked the sharper side over the opening exchanges of this tour. South Africa have since won back-to-back Tests — 33-26 in Cape Town, and now 29-24 in Soweto — with the same pattern both times: a tight contest broken open by the Springboks in the final quarter.
Springboks Third Test: What Comes Next
The series moves to Baltimore for the fourth and final Test on 12 September, the first time this fixture has been played on United States soil. New Zealand need a win to draw the series 2-2; South Africa need only avoid defeat to close it out 3-1.
New Zealand will make that trip without their captain. Ardie Savea suffered a shoulder injury during the match and will miss the Baltimore decider, a significant loss for a New Zealand side already needing a win just to save the series.
For more on how this series has unfolded, read our report on the Springboks second test in Cape Town and the series opener, All Blacks vs Springboks at Ellis Park.
