NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

Anatomy of the miracle win: Breaking down the All Blacks' comeback over South Africa

NZ Herald
6 Oct, 2018 06:46 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty

Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Down 30-18 with eight minutes to play, the All Blacks scored two converted tries to steal a win over the Springboks in Pretoria.

This is how they pulled off the comeback:

72 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 18

During a break in play the Springboks bring off halfback Faf de Klerk and hooker Malcolm Marx to a standing ovation from the Loftus Versfeld crowd. Both players have had big tests up until this point. The crowd believes they've done enough to earn a second win over the All Blacks in 2018.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks have a scrum on halfway and are put under immediate pressure from the Springboks and start going backwards before TJ Perenara quickly gets the ball away. The All Blacks surge over the advantage line through replacement first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga. Within three quick phases the All Blacks make 20 metres.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The All Blacks earn a penalty when Bongi Mbonambi and Pieter-Steph du Toit lift Ofa Tu'ungafasi in a dangerous tackle. They put him down gently but it's enough for referee Angus Gardner to blow the whistle. Mo'unga kicks for the corner and the All Blacks have an attacking lineout with seven minutes to play.

73 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 18

The lineout is just seven metres out from the tryline and Nathan Harris finds
Kieran Read at the front. 'The All Blacks are running out of time. They've got to score twice," says Sky commentator Grant Nisbett. Harris, Ryan Crotty and Ardie Savea all have short runs but can't do much before Patrick Tuipulotu gets a half break and makes a few metres putting the All Blacks five metres short.

A couple of phases later Tuipulotu has another attempt out wide and lands two metre shy before the ball comes back in field and Scott Barrett is tackled a metre short. Mo'unga and Perenara also have attempts but can't break the line before Scott Barrett fakes a short run across field and quickly darts forward to dive over. On the 14th phase and after 10 different All Blacks got their hands on the ball, the try is scored near the posts. Mo'unga converts.

Dejected South Africa's players look on at the end of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. Photo / AP
Dejected South Africa's players look on at the end of the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. Photo / AP

76 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 25

"They're entitled to walk back," referee Gardner is heard saying to the All Blacks, who seem to be complaining about the Springboks lack of urgency to get the test re-started.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Handre Pollard kicks deep and Crotty makes the catch and runs the ball back. Perenara kicks high but Damian Willemse makes a strong play under pressure. With just over three minutes to play the Springboks just need to hold possession for a second straight win over the All Blacks.

Listen to "RadioSport highlights: All Blacks v Springboks" on Spreaker.

77 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 25

After almost losing the ball, the Springboks look to settle things down at ruck time.
Vincent Koch gets the ball and goes the ground but Savea is quickly over the top of him. The Springboks are late to support their man and Savea earns a crucial penalty, quite possibly the key moment of the match.

With no South African players back deep, Mo'unga kicks for the corner and at first it looks like he's had a shocker as the ball doesn't find touch on the full. But the bounce of the ball works in his favour as it rolls perfectly towards the sideline and gives the All Blacks a lineout just five metres out.

New Zealand's players celebrate at the end the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo / AP
New Zealand's players celebrate at the end the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo / AP

78 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 25

Contrasting shots of the coaches boxes. Steve Hansen looks quite calm as the All Blacks walk up to set up the lineout while his counterpart Rassie Erasmus looks a little bit nervous with a shaky hand.

Discover more

All Blacks

All Blacks stun Boks with last-minute winner

06 Oct 02:37 PM
All Blacks

The miracle comeback: How the ABs broke Boks hearts

06 Oct 04:44 PM
All Blacks

All Blacks' great escape: Five things you missed

06 Oct 05:04 PM
All Blacks

World reacts: Boks 'let it go', ABs showed 'true courage'

06 Oct 06:22 PM

"We've been in this corner before Marshy," Sky commentator Jeff Wilson says to former teammate Justin Marshall, referencing the famous 1996 win when the All Blacks held on in the same corner of Loftus Versfeld to record their first ever series win in South Africa.

Harris throws to Read again and the All Blacks drive and get a penalty advantage as the Springboks attempt to collapse the maul. With the All Blacks a metre out, Read gets ready to pick up the ball and points to his left, with Scott Barrett supporting him on his left hip they surge ahead and provide quick ball for Savea who dives all of 30 centimetres to score the winner.

79 minutes - South Africa 30 All Blacks 30

There's still 60 seconds left on the clock when Savea scores but Mo'unga takes his time with the match-winning conversion. The Springboks charge but it goes over.

"Is that fulltime?" Garner asks his time keeper before blowing the whistle on a thrilling test match.

Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty
Ardie Savea celebrates after scoring the match-winning try. Photo /Getty

Fulltime: All Blacks 32 South Africa 30

Scenes of jubilant All Blacks and dejected Springboks fans and supporters.

"That ladies and gentlemen is the end of the game. The All Blacks win 32-30. Well played". Cue Bob Marley's 'Don't Worry About a Thing'.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"How does it feel?" All Blacks skipper Kieran Read is asked by Sky's Wilson.

"I'm not really too sure. I guess immense relief. So proud of our men. This doesn't come easy. You have to really stick at it. A lot of sides would have just rolled over potentially but we backed ourselves, kept going."

Save
    Share this article

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks

Ex-All Black picked in Australia's Rugby Championship squad

Premium
OpinionLiam Napier

Liam Napier: Why Mo'unga's All Blacks return is more complex than it seems

Rugby

Richie Mo'unga rejoins NZ Rugby on 18-month contract


Sponsored

Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from All Blacks

Ex-All Black picked in Australia's Rugby Championship squad
All Blacks

Ex-All Black picked in Australia's Rugby Championship squad

After serving a three-year stand-down period, the prop is eligible for the Wallabies.

07 Aug 09:07 PM
Premium
Premium
Liam Napier: Why Mo'unga's All Blacks return is more complex than it seems
Liam Napier
OpinionLiam Napier

Liam Napier: Why Mo'unga's All Blacks return is more complex than it seems

07 Aug 02:00 AM
Richie Mo'unga rejoins NZ Rugby on 18-month contract
Rugby

Richie Mo'unga rejoins NZ Rugby on 18-month contract

07 Aug 02:00 AM


Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’
Sponsored

Revealed: The night driving ‘red flag’

04 Aug 11:37 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP