The Springboks spent the first half hour of Saturday's third test hanging on.
The All Blacks were quicker, sharper and twice crossed through Ardie Savea as they threatened to seize control of the contest. But the Boks absorbed the pressure, turned the game through their set piece dominance and then unleashed their power game in the final quarter to secure a 29-24 victory and an unassailable 2-1 series lead.
These were the five moments that mattered.
1. SCRAMBLE LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW
For the first 25 minutes the All Blacks looked the sharper side. They were winning the territorial battle, creating opportunities and asking serious questions of the Springbok defence.
One of the biggest arrived when Will Jordan sliced through from inside his own 22 and raced all the way to halfway before putting boot to ball. Suddenly South Africa had just Cheslin Kolbe covering the kick with two dangerous chasers bearing down on him.
Kolbe not only gathered the ball cleanly but evaded the chase and found touch near halfway. Instead of another wave of New Zealand pressure, the Boks were able to stop, breathe and reset.
It felt like a small moment at the time, but championship winning teams survive these situations. The Springboks were under enormous pressure and Kolbe made sure they emerged without damage.
2. THE BLOW THAT COULD DECIDE EVERYTHING
Ardie Savea had been magnificent.
The All Black captain scored two early tries and was once again leading from the front. At that stage he looked capable of dragging New Zealand to victory almost on his own.
Then came the moment that could have massive implications beyond Saturday's match. As Savea tried to slow Springbok ball near his own line, Malcolm Marx thundered into the breakdown and the New Zealand skipper emerged with a dislocated shoulder.
Savea's evening was over and, more importantly, so was his involvement in the Baltimore decider. Losing the heartbeat of the side is a blow any team would struggle to absorb.
3. CAN'T KEEP A GOOD DAAN DOWN
The Springbok scrum had heard plenty of noise during the week.
New Zealand pundits had suggested South Africa's dominance in the set piece came from illegal tactics rather than outright power. Daan Human and his pack did their talking on the field.
With a five-metre scrum in the 36th minute, the Boks simply blasted through the All Blacks. There was no walking around the scrum. No grey area. Just a complete demolition that ended with a penalty try after New Zealand collapsed illegally under pressure.
It was sweet vindication for Human and his forwards. Just as importantly, it pulled the Springboks level at 12-12 before halftime and transformed the mood of the contest.
4. THE ANSWER IS BLOWING IN THE WIND
One of the biggest talking points before the match was the wind. The general feeling was that New Zealand would be much more used to playing in blowing conditions.
The Springboks had played with it in the opening half and there was a belief that New Zealand could use the conditions to their advantage after the break.
Instead, the weather delivered an unexpected answer. Looking to apply pressure, Damian McKenzie kicked downfield to launch a chase along the touchline. The strong wind had other ideas, carrying the ball all the way beyond the dead ball line.
The result was a Springbok scrum deep in New Zealand territory and a complete release of pressure. More than that, it felt like confirmation that the momentum of the match had shifted decisively towards the home side.
5. AN ABSOLUTE MAULING
If there was any doubt about who owned the contest by the closing stages, the Springbok pack removed it.
From a lineout 10-metres out, South Africa launched another maul. The All Blacks tried everything to stop it but the machine just kept rolling towards the tryline.
Eventually Malcolm Marx crashed over beneath the posts to put the result beyond doubt. It was the perfect ending to a day of forward dominance.
New Zealand still looked dangerous with ball in hand, but defensive systems can be improved in a week. The reality is that no team adds 200 kilograms of muscle to its pack between Tests. The Springboks know it. The All Blacks know it. And now Baltimore awaits.