Springboks leave it late to down All Blacks in Ellis Park thriller

It was a great escape from the Boks after a lackluster first 60 minutes, but with another match against the All Blacks to come, they will know they will need to lift their game or risk a bounce-back from the men in black.

The match started with the Boks forced into all-out defence after an early penalty put the visitors on the attack. The All Blacks came at the Boks for phase after phase inside the South African 22 but couldn't find a way over the line.

The visitors weren't done yet, however, as another mistake from the Boks put them back on the front foot. Moments later, Aphelele Fassi was forced into defending from an off-side position, resulting in another All Black penalty and a yellow card for Fassi.

The New Zealanders kicked for the line and this time there was no stopping their rolling maul as they crashed over for the first try of the match.

After finding themselves under the pump for the better part of 12 minutes, the Boks nearly scored with their first real attack when Kurt-Lee Arendse kicked the ball through from a dangerous position, but he decided to use his boot again rather than pick the ball up with the try-line beckoning as the opportunity went begging.

Another Springbok penalty soon followed, however, and this time there was no stopping them as Bongi Mbonambi crashed over the line following an attacking line-out - although it looked like the hooker might have spilled it prior to going over. The conversion was missed to make it 7-5 to the visitors.

When Jasper Wiese earned a penalty at the breakdown, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu opted to take a shot from 60 metres out and slotted it over - an incredible effort from the youngster - as the Boks took a 8-7 lead.

But when another mistake from the Boks - Ben-Jason Dixon attempting a silly offload in the tackle - handed the All Blacks a chance to counter-attack, they made the Boks pay, timing their passes to perfection to allow Caleb Clarke to crash over in the corner. The conversion was missed but the All Blacks were back in front, leading 12-8.

The Boks earned a kickable penalty not long after thanks to a strong scrum and Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted it over to bring them back to within one.

With time running out in the first half, the Boks nearly scored from a superb set-piece move started by a long line-out throw over the top, but Jesse Kriel's little kick-through just went into touch. Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed with a drop-goal attempt moments later as it finished 12-11 to the All Blacks at the break following a frantic 40 minutes.

The second half couldn't have started in any worse fashion for the Boks as Damien De Allende's laboured pass in the midfield was well-read and intercepted by Jordie Barrett, who ran in for the try, quickly converted for an eight-point lead.

The home side were given a chance to go back on the attack straight from the kick-off, and after they couldn't go over via their line-out maul, they opted for the three points instead.

The All Blacks soon returned the favour at the other end, before Feinberg-Mngomezulu reduced the deficit again following a high shot on Siya Kolisi.

But when Fassi shanked a clearance kick to put the All Blacks back on the front foot, the visitors again made the Boks pay as a beautiful backline move put Clarke over for his second try. The conversion was missed, but they were now 10 points clear.

Try as the Boks might, they were struggling to find a way back into the match, but with 12 minutes to play, they were handed a lifeline when the visitors were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card to replacement prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Kwagga Smith finally smashed through the All Black defence to score under the poles.

Still trailing by three, the Boks were given an easy three right in front with five minutes to play but they bravely opted to kick for the corner instead. With the All Black defence tiring, Grant Williams spotted a gap behind the ruck and crashed over. Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the extras as the Boks took a four-point lead.

With time running out, Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a chance to stretch the lead further via the kicking tee but missed a sitter to add to the late drama.

It didn't matter in the end, however, as the Boks ended the match on top to pull off one of their more audacious comeback wins in recent memory - their third win in a row against the All Blacks.

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