The Springboks won the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 when they beat the All Blacks 18-12 at a packed Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane, Independent Newspapers
THE SPRINGBOKS put one hand on the Rugby Championship and won the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 when they beat the All Blacks 18-12 at a packed Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
The Springboks have now beaten the All Blacks four consecutive times over the last year, and it was also the Springboks’ first win over the All Blacks in Cape Town since 2005.
The match was far from a classic, with both teams making loads of errors, while both line-outs malfunctioned on the night. The rugby didn’t quite match the atmosphere as a full house enjoyed a lovely evening out with perfect weather for rugby.
Match report: It wasn't pretty, but the #Springboks did enough to win a fourth consecutive Test against New Zealand and lift the Freedom Cup - more here: https://t.co/S28iNimCea 🥳#ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/NAY5mCigFb
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 7, 2024
The win means that the Springboks are still unbeaten in the Rugby Championship and one more win in their next two matches against Argentina home and away should seal the deal.
At the end of the game in the Mother City, the whole stadium stayed to watch captain Siya Kolisi lift the Freedom Cup, the one piece of silverware that has eluded this golden generation of Springboks.
Kolisi, broken nose and all, said in the pre-match press conference that they were desperate to win this trophy and try and win over some Cape Town All Blacks supporters in the process.
Well, the captain wasn’t just a hype man. He came to the party in a big way, leading from the front. He scored a try in the second half and made a few big hits to turn the tide in the match after it looked like the All Blacks would pull this one through.
It was again a game of two halves, with the All Blacks dominating the first stanza through their excellent play at the breakdown. Damian McKenzie kicked three penalties to give them a 9-3 lead at the break.
A tough battle in Cape Town. Congratulations @Springboks 🤝#AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/jEtjHpp10g
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 7, 2024
Both teams’ line-outs were a shambles and that led to a rather drab affair on the attacking front. Line-outs are usually the bread and butter of both teams.
But the Boks started to get into their work in the physical stakes in the second half and they ended up going in front after Kolisi went over the line after sustained pressure on the All Blacks’ line nine minutes into the first half.
The Springboks’ bench came on and made an impact, but the Boks were still blown up at the breakdown for not rolling away quickly enough.
However, the All Blacks couldn’t make this count, as McKenzie missed a few kickable penalties which saw the Boks get off the hook.
In the end though, it was a case of deja vu, as the Bok forwards made sure of the result five minutes before the end of the match, when Malcolm Marx went over from a maul to start the biggest party Cape Town has seen at this venue since the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Scorers:
Springboks 18 (3) – Tries: Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx. Conversion: Handre Pollard. Penalty goals: Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
New Zealand 12 (9) – Penalty goals: Damian McKenzie (4).
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