New Zealand and South Africa competed to a 16-16 draw this morning. The match was a round two fixture of the Rugby Championship. The result combined with Australia’s win over Argentina means that this year’s tournament is wide open.
The home side, New Zealand, had been in control only for a try in the final minute to see the Springboks sealing a draw. It came from a kick from Cheslin Kolbe with replacement Herschel Jantjies chasing and gathering.
Now with one round remaining South Africa are the outright leaders with 7 competition points. New Zealand are second with 6 followed by Australia with 4, and Argentina with 2.
New Zealand will travel to Western Australia to face the Wallabies in Perth while South Africa will take-on Argentina in Salta. Both final round matches are to be played on August 10.
SCORING
NEW ZEALAND
Tries – J. Goodhue (37′)
Cons – B. Barrett 1/1 (38′)
Pens – B. Barrett 1/3 (49′), R. Mo’unga 2/2 (67′, 75′)
SOUTH AFRICA 16
Tries – H. Jantjies (80′)
Cons – H. Pollard 1/1 (80′)
Pens – H. Pollard 3/4 (3′, 10′, 61′)
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Joe Moody (Ofa Tu’ungafasi 45′), 2 Codie Taylor (16 Dane Coles 61′), 3 Owen Franks (Angus Ta’avao 45′), 4 Brodie Retallick (19 Vaea Vivita 61′), 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Shannon Frizell (Dalton Papali’i 77′), 7 Matt Todd, 8 Kieran Read (capt.), 9 TJ Perenara (21 Aaron Smith 59′), 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Rieko Ioane (23 George Bridge 61′), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (22 Anton Lienert-Brown 59′), 13 Jack Goodhue, 14 Ben Smith, 15 Beauden Barrett
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Steven Kitshoff (17 Tendai Mtawarira 59′), 2 Malcolm Marx (16 Bongi Mbonambi 70′), 3 Frans Malherbe (18 Trevor Nyakane 56′), 4 Eben Etzebeth (19 RG Snyman 51′), 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Kwagga Smith (20 Francois Louw 68′), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen (capt.), 9 Faf de Klark (21 Herschel Jantjies 45′), 10 Handré Pollard, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Damian de Allende (22 Frans Steyn 56′), 13 Lukhanyo Am (23 Jesse Kriel 51′), 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 15 Willie le Roux
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nic Berry (ARU)
Assistants: Angus Gardner (ARU) & Shuhei Kubo (JRFU)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (RFU)