There was a certain irony that it took a Malcolm Marx try late in the game to give the Springboks their first touch of the Freedom Cup in almost 15 years, winning the fiercley contested match against the All Blacks in Cape Town 18-12.
Marx’s try, which came in the 74th minute, gave the Boks the buffer they needed to see out the game where they stuttered, stalled but ultimately still had enough in the tank to end on the right side of an absorbing contest.
🤩#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/KiAzHq7QRp
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 7, 2024
Marx’s try, which came as All Black prop Tyrell Lomax decided to play villain and ended up in the sin bin in the most crucial of moments, shouldering Cheslin Kolbe off the ball as he was chasing a chip kick from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, setting up the perfect finale for a crowd of baying fans that were disappointed up to that point with what their heroes had produced.
From the lineout the Boks mauled it close, but as it looked as the maul collapsed, Marx broke blind and sent the stadium into a frenzy with his try.
It allowed the Boks to strangle the All Blacks in those last minutes of the game, until Pieter-Steph du Toit stole the final lineout and Ruan Nortje put the ball into touch.
The bokke knows how to clutch a win.#RSA vs #NZL#Springboks #AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/21KQN3NNWX
— klahcSnoV (@VonSchalk) September 7, 2024
The final frenzy meant the Boks have all but secured the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with two games to go, and only an utter disaster can prevent it.
It also meant that the Boks have reclaimed the Freedom Cup, which they needed to win outright to end a 15-year absence from their trophy cabinet and have now done the unthinkable and completed four wins in a row against their old enemy.
Siya Kolisi was very clear about what the goal was for the Springboks this week 🙌
— D.Silverback🦍 (@D_Silverback_) September 7, 2024
They lift the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 🏆#TRC2024 #springboks https://t.co/eB7HyDGipj pic.twitter.com/0KMYa8xtk3
It also increased their wins to six out of the last eight meetings between the two sides, which could easily be seen as a strangehold in the age-old rivalry between the two teams.
The Springboks extend their winning streak against the All Blacks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cExHk24peX
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 7, 2024
FOUND A WAY TO WIN
But it wasn’t a classic, and for all the celebrations at the end, the Boks were nowhere near their best, with the ironic twist that they were playing with almost too much freedom in their quest to transform to the new game plan.
While the win will always be welcomed, and should always be celebrated against the old enemy, the Boks were too loose and were lucky to get away with the victory - much like they did at Ellis Park.
The fact that Damian Mckenzie missed three kickable penalties - one that hit the post - was a let-off for a team that lost the breakdown battle for most of the match, and looked out of sorts at times.
The move to a more expansive game plan is one thing, but if it isn’t done accurately, it can be costly.
Once again the Boks found a way to win without playing anywhere near their best, and got themselves out of a hole when they needed to.
This time the All Blacks didn’t get off to the fast start they needed, and the Boks were much better than they were at Ellis Park, but they were never close to being clinical.
Four line-breaks were turned over at crucial times in the first half and every time it seemed they got through the tough All Black defence, they conceded a turnover penalty.
It allowed McKenzie to keep the All Blacks in front in the first half, stretching the lead to 9-3 at the break.
DE ALLENDE DELIVERS
The rejigged bomb squad made their appearance in the second half, with Marx the first to appear.
As with every game he was exceptional, providing an incredible boost to the side off the bench with his energy and physicality.
As always the debate in the coming week will be: if he is the best hooker in the world, why doesn’t he start every game?
There were other heroes as well. Damian de Allende played a dual role of forward and midfield battering ram, often popping up for short passes and taking the ball into contact.
In essence this could easily have been his best game in recent memory. De Allende was a well-deserved man of the match.
At 9-3 down the Boks needed a lift in the second half.
It didn’t come straight away as McKenze missed an early penalty for another breakdown infringement.
The power play close to the line was much better, but Eben Etzebeth’s attempt to place it over the line was deemed short.
SIYA AND MALCOLM SEND CROWD INTO A FRENZY
The Boks continued to pound the All Black line and finally captain Siya Kolisi provided the perfect ending to a period of attack as he chose a slightly outside line to crash over the line and send the crowd into a frenzy.
👏#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/x4XigCq0ZY
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 7, 2024
Handre Pollard gave the Boks the lead in the 49th minute with the conversion for the first time in the game, and the arrival of the other subs seemed to change the momentum of the game.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s appearance on the field and his first kick gave the Boks a three point lead, but another breakdown penalty allowed McKenzie to cut that to one shortly afterwards.
And even though they were getting on top, the Boks struggled to take a grip on the game.
Their inaccuracy was compounded by Willie le Roux getting a yellow card for an attempted intercept, which luckily didn’t cost any points.
Both flyhalves missed another round of penalties before Lomax got the crowd baying when he shouldered Kolbe off the ball.
Big moment in the game as Tyrel Lomax is sent to the sin bin ❌
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 7, 2024
📺 Stream #TRC2024 on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/6TmxiI7p8H
And Marx, so often the Boks saviour in tough situations, got to play that role again.
The Boks make it four in a row against the All Blacks...and the Freedom Cup is coming home 🏆#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/Sau0OEd4zl
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 7, 2024
The Boks will improve in their expansive game, and will celebrate historic victories over their oldest rivals, but they will know they were lucky in stages.
But they will also know they can become an attacking machine that can do wonders if they get it right.
They need to continue on the path they are on, but they need to tighten up.
Doing that from a winning perspective is a whole lot easier than from the other way around.
And after that battle, the win is sweeter because they know they can only improve.
SCORERS
South Africa - tries: Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx. Conversions: Handre Pollard, Penalties: Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
New Zealand - Penalties: Damian Mckenzie (4)