The All Blacks have lost the third test of their series against the Springboks in South Africa, going down 29-24 in front of around 90,000 fans in Soweto.
The All Blacks raced out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Springboks fought back to level the score by halftime. From there, South Africa’s powerful forward play, especially their scrums and lineouts, helped them take control of the match.
The result means the Springboks now lead the four-match series 2-1, with one test remaining next weekend in Baltimore, in the United States.
To make things tougher, All Blacks captain Ardie Savea was forced off the field with a shoulder injury after scoring two tries himself. He will miss the final test, along with midfielder Quinn Tupaea, who injured his knee, and forward Luke Jacobson, who hurt a tendon in his elbow.
Coach Dave Rennie said the team was disappointed but not far off beating the world champions.
“I don’t reckon there’s much in it,” Rennie said. “It’s frustrating because there’s a lot of effort out there… we just weren’t quite clinical enough.”
Rennie praised replacement loose forward Wallace Sititi for stepping up in Savea’s absence, and said the All Blacks would be determined to bounce back in Baltimore next weekend.
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