Springboks come up clutch once again to down All Blacks and clinch Freedom Cup

Not only have they won the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009, but it's also the first time they've beaten the All Blacks four times in a row since 1949, while they will now take some stopping in the hunt for the Rugby Championship trophy.

The All Blacks were handed an early attacking scrum after Grant Williams took too long behind the Boks' first ruck, but some strong defence from the Boks first up drove the All Blacks back and saw the ball turned over.

The Boks, meanwhile, were having some problems of their own in the line-out, which got them in a spot of bother when it led to a turnover for the ABs in a dangerous area, though the defence once again stood firm.

But when a crossfield kick from Handre Pollard found an All Black player instead, it led to another fierce attack from the visitors, the end result of which was a yellow card for Jasper Wiese for an early tackle. With an easy three points on offer from the ensuing penalty, the All Blacks took a 3-0 lead.

The visitors now had a numerical advantage, but it was soon back to even stevens when Sevu Reece also got 10 minutes for taking out Willie le Roux in the air.

Moments later, there was a great break from Cheslin Kolbe after the Boks disrupted an ABs line-out, but the winger could not find Pieter-Steph du Toit as he tried to make a miracle offload.

The South Africans continued to lack rhythm and struggle with basic execution, and it eventually led to another turnover and a penalty for the All Blacks. Damian McKenzie gratefully accepted the opportunity to make it 6-0.

Moments later, the All Blacks gave away a penalty of their own after Ardie Savea got a big over-eager at ruck time. It was close to the halfway line but it was no problem for Pollard, who brought the Boks back to within three.

As the first half wound down, the Boks continued to put themselves under pressure by turning the ball over. With the All Blacks on attack as the hooter sounded, they won the penalty, as McKenzie slotted it over to hand the visitors a 9-3 lead at half-time.

The Boks found a bit of rhythm early in the second half, leading to a penalty and a kick for the corner. Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus wasted little time in bringing on Malcolm Marx to try and turn things around.

The Boks continued to turn down the three and go for the corner as they won a series of penalties inside the ABs 22, and it eventually paid off as captain courageous Siya Kolisi crashed over from close range, with super sub Marx frequently involved in the build-up. Pollard added the extras as the Boks took the lead for the first time in the match, albeit by just one point.

With 52 minutes gone, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Vincent Koch and Elrigh Louw were brought onto the field as the Boks looked to turn up the pressure. When another kickable penalty followed shortly after, they opted to go for the points, Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotting it over to make it 13-9 to the home side.

The All Blacks were continuing to win the breakdown battle, however, and when they won yet another penalty for holding on, it led to another assault on the Boks' try-line and another three points, McKenzie converting a sitter to bring them back to within one.

When the All Blacks launched another swift attack, it forced Le Roux to attempt an intercept, which only got him 10 minutes in the bin for his troubles. McKenzie's attempted penalty kick hit the uprights, forcing the Boks into some desperate defence.

Moments later, the Boks won a penalty on the half-way line but Feinberg-Mngomezulu's effort was well wide.

With 10 minutes to play, it was the All Blacks' turn to win the penalty when Gerhard Steenekamp was harshly adjudged to have not rolled away, but McKenzie somehow conspired to miss from right in front.

The drama continued when Cheslin Kolbe was taken out as he tried to chase down a kick from Jaden Hendrikse, Tyral Lomax earning 10 minutes for his troubles and giving the Boks a kickable penalty.

But when they bravely opted to kick for the corner instead, the decision paid off handsomely as a second shove got their maul rolling forward before Marx broke off from the side and crashed over in the corner. Feinberg-Mngomezulu couldn't add the extras from out wide as the Boks took a six-point lead with five minutes to play.

Moments later, there was a great break from Feinberg-Mngomezulu as he sliced open the ABs' defence, but his kick ahead rolled into touch as the All Blacks lived to fight another day.

With two minutes to play and the Boks camped on the ABs line, Hendrikse threw it to Kolbe, who attempted a drop goal that didn't go over.

The All Blacks won a penalty as the whistle sounded to give themselves one final roll of the dice, but the Boks came up clutch to win the line-out and close out a famous victory in Cape Town.

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