The Rugby Championship was thrown into a state of dramatic unpredictability this weekend following a pair of electrifying matches that saw South Africa deliver a historic defeat to New Zealand and Argentina narrowly hold on to victory against Australia. In a stunning display of power and precision, the Springboks produced a dominant performance in Wellington, handing the All Blacks their heaviest-ever loss. This result, combined with a tense battle in Sydney, has left all four teams tied with two wins and two defeats each, setting up a thrilling finale to the tournament.
In the headline-grabbing clash at Wellington Regional Stadium, South Africa bounced back from a defeat by the All Blacks just a week ago to dismantle their rivals with a commanding 43-10 scoreline. World champions South Africa demonstrated their resilience and strength in a match where they scored six tries and poured on an incredible 36 unanswered points in the second half. This victory eclipsed New Zealand’s previous heaviest defeat, a 35-7 loss to the Springboks at Twickenham in 2023.
The match began with early promise from the Springboks, but they were initially met with a resolute All Blacks defence. A brilliant tackle from Jordie Barrett denied what looked to be a certain try for Cheslin Kolbe, while a try from RG Snyman was later ruled out. The momentum seemed to shift when New Zealand’s debutant Leroy Carter crossed the line following a well-executed move, and a penalty from Damian McKenzie briefly restored the home side’s lead. However, this glimmer of hope was soon extinguished by the visitors. Kolbe drew the teams level with a moment of brilliance, intercepting a pass in his own half and sprinting clear for a stunning try.
South Africa dominate New Zealand in Rugby
From that point on, the match became a showcase of South Africa’s relentless attack. The second half was a one-sided affair as the Springboks took complete control. Kolbe scored his second try early after the break, followed by a penalty from Manie Libbok. The onslaught continued as Damian Willemse powered over the line, capitalising on a poor New Zealand line-out to extend the lead. Further tries from Kwagga Smith, Snyman, and Andre Esterhuizen rounded out the crushing victory, leaving New Zealand reeling.
Following the match, a jubilant South Africa captain Siya Kolisi praised his team’s fearlessness. I give credit to my boys – we didn’t give up. And to the coach (Rassie Erasmus) as well,” he said. “We played fearlessly. We didn’t want to hold back. We knew what we needed to do and we believed in ourselves – that was the most important thing out there.” On the other side of the ledger, a somber New Zealand captain Scott Barrett admitted, “That’s a tough one to swallow. The Springboks certainly showed up and took a real improvement from last week, and we just didn’t adjust. There’s a lot of areas where we can get better.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, Argentina held on for a tense 28-26 victory over Australia. A week after a last-gasp defeat to the Wallabies, the Pumas capitalised on the hosts’ undisciplined play at Allianz Stadium. Fly-half Santiago Carreras was the hero for Argentina, a testament to his precision as he kicked seven crucial penalties and one conversion, accounting for a staggering 23 of their 28 points. Skipper Julian Montoya, playing in his 112th Test, scored the team’s only try in the eighth minute, following an early score from Australia’s Joseph Suaalii.
The match looked to be heading for a comfortable win for the Pumas, who led 28-7 before Australia launched a thrilling late comeback. Three quick tries from Andrew Kellaway and Filipo Daugunu (who scored twice) set up a nail-biting finish. However, Argentina’s defence held firm under pressure, denying the Wallabies a repeat of their previous encounter’s last-minute heroics.
A relieved Julian Montoya reflected on the match, stating, “I’m just grateful to play with this jersey. This time we won, but I think we make it tough for ourselves sometimes. Australia is a great team and I’m really proud with the way that we fought. Still a lot of things to improve, but we need to enjoy winning as well.”
With all four teams now on equal footing, the Rugby Championship is poised for a nail-biting conclusion over the remaining two rounds. South Africa will face Argentina, while New Zealand will take on Australia. “We’ve got the right to fight for the Rugby Championship,” Kolisi said, acknowledging the fierce competition. “It’s open now and that’s what matters to us.
