International

Māori All Blacks storm back to beat Japan XV in Nagoya

Taha Kemara and Xavi Taele score late tries as the Māori All Blacks overturn a 24–7 half-time deficit to beat the Japan XV 38–31 in Nagoya.

Published

2 months ago

27th June 2026

rugbyisthegame

Māori All Blacks storm back to beat Japan XV in Nagoya

Māori All Blacks Taha Kemara, Māori All Blacks v Japan XV, Lipovitan D Challenge Cup, Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya, Japan, Friday, 26 June 2026. (Photo by Akito Iwamoto / action press)

The Māori All Blacks produced one of their most dramatic comebacks in recent memory, scoring 24 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes to overturn a 24–7 half-time deficit and defeat the Japan XV 38–31 at a packed and humid Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.

Despite leading for 51 minutes and trailing for just seven, the hosts fell short of only their second victory in eight meetings against the Māori All Blacks. Head coach Tamati Ellison’s side had promised an exciting brand of rugby before the match, and while it took time to materialise, the second-half blitz was as thrilling as anything the fixture has produced.

Japan XV seize early control

The Japan XV set the tone from the outset, with their defensive line speed causing immediate problems for the visitors. The Māori All Blacks were determined to keep the ball in hand but found little reward, losing possession through breakdown steals and handling errors in the opening minutes.

It was university standout Ryunosuke Ito who provided the spark for the hosts. The Meiji University fly-half was electric throughout the first half, beating five defenders with three try assists. His first moment of brilliance came in the eighth minute when he spotted space wide on the right flank and slid a perfectly weighted cross-field kick to the touchline. The bounce sat up perfectly for Kazuma Ueda, who gathered and touched down in the corner. Takuro Matsunaga converted from the sideline.

The Māori All Blacks responded through debutant Adam Lennox in the 14th minute. Xavi Taele made a half-break off the scrum 40 metres out and freed his hands for Cole Forbes, who burst through a gap and popped the ball inside for Lennox. The halfback juggled, spun and held on for a memorable first try in the black jersey. Rivez Reihana converted to level the scores at 7–7.

Yellow cards change the complexion

The contest shifted decisively in the 31st minute when captain Bailyn Sullivan was shown yellow for tackling Dylan Riley without the ball after a string of penalties had drawn a warning from referee Sam Grove-White. Just two minutes later, blindside flanker Torian Barnes followed his captain to the sin bin for joining a driving maul from the side, reducing the Māori All Blacks to 13 men for the remainder of the half.

The Japan XV punished the numerical advantage ruthlessly. Captain Mamoru Harada powered over from the back of a lineout drive in the 33rd minute, before the Māori All Blacks’ lineout malfunctioned and the hosts moved the ball quickly to the right for Riley to race through and score. Matsunaga’s sideline conversion made it 19–7.

Ito was brimming with confidence as the half drew to a close. A superb 50/22 from scrumhalf Takuro Hojo put the Japan XV in prime position once more, and another cross-field kick from Ito found the waiting arms of Inoke Burua for one of the easiest tries of his career. The half-time statistics were damning for the visitors: Japan held 65 per cent of territory, enjoyed a 7–2 penalty count in their favour, and made 48 fewer tackles.

The comeback begins

Whatever Ellison said at the break had an immediate effect. The Māori All Blacks emerged with renewed purpose, and Sullivan — back from the bin — made amends in the 49th minute. From a scrum five metres out, Barnes took it off the back and Sullivan sliced through a gap to score. Reihana converted to cut the deficit to 24–14.

The Japan XV struck back through Matsunaga, who received off Riley’s pass and slipped through the defensive line to score in the corner in the 53rd minute. His own conversion from the touchline extended the lead to 31–14, and it appeared the contest was over.

Four tries in 16 minutes

What followed was extraordinary. The Māori All Blacks bench, in particular halfback Sam Nock, injected energy and tempo that the hosts could not contain. In the 64th minute, quick ball from Taele freed debutant Payton Spencer down the wing. Spencer was hauled down just short but Nock picked up and fired infield for TK Howden, who dragged two defenders over the line. Taha Kemara converted to make it 31–21.

Just four minutes later, the visitors produced their most cohesive passage of the match. A trio of offloads carved through the Japan XV defence before Nock darted off the back of a ruck, shrugged off a defender and dotted down. The TMO intervened to check a forward pass in the build-up, but the referee overruled and awarded the try. Kemara converted. The gap was three points.

Tellingly, the Māori All Blacks delivered nine more offloads than the Japan XV across the match, with ten players contributing at least one each as the flair and ingenuity they are renowned for finally surfaced.

In the 75th minute, Kemara made up for an earlier fumble by beating four defenders on a mazy run to the left. He dummied past one, pushed another off, stepped inside the last man and crashed over for the go-ahead score. His conversion drifted wide, leaving the lead at just two points with five minutes remaining.

The frantic finish reached its crescendo in the final minute. The Japan XV attempted to play out from their 22, but replacement prop Pouri Rakete-Stones — who had been immense since coming on — produced a shuddering hit that sent the ball free. Taele, who had been the standout performer all evening with 15 tackles, 13 carries, three offloads and 52 metres gained, swooped on the loose ball and raced away to score in the corner. Kemara’s conversion struck the right upright as the siren sounded, but it mattered little. The comeback was complete.

Ellison’s vision vindicated

Before the match, Ellison had spoken about the identity he wanted his side to embody: “When people watch the Māori All Blacks, they expect us to play with intent. We want to be fast, physical, move the ball, back our skills and play an exciting brand of rugby that reflects who we are.”

The first half was a test of that vision, but the second half was its vindication. Five debutants started the match and each played their part, while the experienced bench — led by Nock, Kemara and Rakete-Stones — proved the difference.

For the Japan XV, there was much to take from the first-half performance. Ito’s display at fly-half was outstanding, Michael Stolberg was a towering presence with 12 lineout catches, and Harada led from the front. Head coach Neal Hatley had spoken before the match about the blend of youth and experience in his squad: “This is a chance for these guys who have been working hard to get an opportunity to play, and we think it’s our best team in terms of winning the game on the weekend.”

The disappointment will be in the second half, where the Japan XV fell off tackles and could not match the pace at which the Māori All Blacks played. The gap between the sides, once a chasm, continues to narrow — but so too does the margin for error when the visitors find their rhythm.

Key moments

8 mins – TRY JAPAN XV: Ryunosuke Ito spotted space out wide and slid a perfectly weighted kick to the right sideline. The bounce sat up for Kazuma Ueda, who gathered and scored in the corner. Takuro Matsunaga converted from the sideline. (7–0)

14 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: Adam Lennox came left off the scrum 40 metres out. Xavi Taele freed his hands for Cole Forbes, who burst through a gap and popped the ball inside for Lennox, who juggled, spun and held on for the try on debut. Rivez Reihana converted. (7–7)

31 mins – YELLOW CARD MĀORI ALL BLACKS: Bailyn Sullivan shown yellow for taking Dylan Riley out without the ball.

33 mins – YELLOW CARD MĀORI ALL BLACKS: Torian Barnes shown yellow for repeated infringement near the goal line. The Māori All Blacks reduced to 13 men.

33 mins – TRY JAPAN XV: The Japan XV drove the lineout maul and Mamoru Harada powered over at the back. Matsunaga missed the conversion. (12–7)

36 mins – TRY JAPAN XV: The Māori All Blacks lost their lineout and the Japan XV went quickly to the right on the 22. Ito took it to the line and fired outside for Dylan Riley, who raced away to score. Matsunaga converted from the sideline. (19–7)

40 mins – TRY JAPAN XV: Ito delivered a perfectly weighted kick through and Inoke Burua touched down. Matsunaga missed the conversion. (24–7)

Half-time: Japan XV 24–7 Māori All Blacks. The Japan XV were superb in the first half, capitalising on two Māori All Blacks yellow cards to score three tries while their opponents were down to 13 men. Ito and Hojo combined superbly in the halves, while Matsunaga was dangerous at the back. The Māori All Blacks managed just one try through debutant Lennox and faced a mountain to climb in the second half.

49 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: The Māori All Blacks opted for the scrum five metres out. Torian Barnes took it off the back and Bailyn Sullivan sliced through a gap to score. Reihana converted. (24–14)

53 mins – TRY JAPAN XV: From the lineout, Ito fired the ball wide to the right. Matsunaga received off Riley’s pass and slipped through the defensive line to score in the corner. Matsunaga converted from the touchline. (31–14)

64 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: Quick ball from Xavi Taele freed Payton Spencer, who was cut down short. Sam Nock picked up and fired infield for TK Howden, who drove over at close range. Taha Kemara converted. (31–21)

68 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: The Māori All Blacks moved the ball at pace inside the 22 on the left before Sam Nock had a dart off the back of the ruck, shrugged off a defender and dotted down. The TMO checked for a forward pass in the build-up but the referee overruled and awarded the try. Kemara converted. (31–28)

75 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: The Māori All Blacks worked it forward on the Japan XV 22 with Pouri Rakete-Stones carrying hard. Kemara ran to the left, dummied past one defender, pushed another off, stepped inside the last man and crashed over. Kemara missed the conversion. (31–33)

80 mins – TRY MĀORI ALL BLACKS: The Japan XV attempted to play out from their 22 but Rakete-Stones disrupted and the ball came loose. Xavi Taele swooped on it and raced away to score in the corner. Kemara’s conversion hit the right upright as the siren sounded. (31–38)

Full-time: Japan XV 31–38 Māori All Blacks

Teams

Japan XV: 15 Takuro Matsunaga, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Chisu Lee, 11 Inoke Burua, 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 9 Takuro Hojo, 8 Waisake Raratubua, 7 Tiennan Costley, 6 Kanji Shimokawa, 5 Michael Stolberg, 4 Esei Haangana, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada (C), 1 Takato Okabe.
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Sojiro Otsuka, 18 Izi Sword, 19 Shin Takeuchi, 20 Aseri Masivou, 21 Haruto Watanabe, 22 Sam Greene, 23 Taira Main.

Māori All Blacks: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Payton Spencer, 13 Bailyn Sullivan (C), 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Reon Paul, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Torian Barnes, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Benet Kumeroa, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Kyle Brown.

Match details

Japan XV 31 (Tries: Ueda, Harada, Riley, Burua, Matsunaga; Conversions: Matsunaga 3/5)
Māori All Blacks 38 (Tries: Lennox, Sullivan, Howden, Nock, Kemara, Taele; Conversions: Reihana 2/2, Kemara 2/4)
Half-time: 24–7

Venue: Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

International

Boks shift Kolbe to fullback for third Test against All Blacks

Published

3 days ago

2nd September 2026

rugbyisthegame

Boks shift Kolbe to fullback for third Test against All Blacks

South Africa Cheslin Kolbe during the All Blacks v South Africa first test match, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, 22 August 2026. (Photo by Nic Bothma / action press)

Rassie Erasmus has resisted wholesale change and opted for continuity in his Springbok selection for the pivotal third Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, making four changes and one positional switch to the side that levelled the series with a 33-26 victory in Cape Town.

Key team news:

Cheslin Kolbe shifts from wing to fullback to cover the injured Damian Willemse, who suffered a hamstring injury in Cape Town but is expected to travel for the series finale in Baltimore
Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the right wing after missing the second Test
The original starting front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw is restored, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit reverting to the bench
Handre Pollard remains unavailable through a calf injury; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at fly-half with Manie Libbok on the bench
The loose trio of Kolisi, du Toit and Jasper Wiese will set a new Springbok record of 18 Test starts together
Eben Etzebeth extends his record as the most capped Springbok to 145 Tests
It is only the third Test between the sides at FNB Stadium, with the All Blacks winning both previous encounters in 2010 and 2012

The only change to the matchday 23 from Cape Town is Arendse’s inclusion for the unavailable Willemse, with all other personnel retained. The front-row swap — restoring Nche, Marx and Louw to their starting roles after Erasmus controversially flipped them with their bench counterparts an hour before kick-off in the second Test — is in effect a reversion to the original plan rather than a fresh change.

The #Springboks have named their match-23 for Saturday's third Test in #RugbysGreatestRivalry – more here: https://t.co/sJ2laG8ea8 🇿🇦#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/xPHoGxHOFw
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 31, 2026

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” Erasmus said.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match.”

Kolbe’s move to fullback is a significant tactical shift. The 32-year-old has played the majority of his international career on the wing but proved an electric presence at 15 during his time in France, and his return of 18 points from the boot in Cape Town — where he landed all his shots at goal — underlines the additional goal-kicking dimension he provides. His aerial skills and devastating counter-attacking ability should translate seamlessly to the last line of defence.

Erasmus was warm in his praise for Arendse’s return. “Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back. He is a quality player and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far shows the type of player he is,” the Springbok coach said.

On the front-row rotation, Erasmus explained: “We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend. Gerhard, Thomas, and Deon have played massive games for us, and at the same time know how to deal with pressure, and that is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80 minutes.”

However, given Erasmus’s track record of late adjustments — he changed his Cape Town line-up three times in the space of a week — there is no guarantee this will be the formation that takes the field on Saturday. All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair acknowledged as much. “You take notice of it, but you take it with a pinch of salt as well,” Blair said. “It gives us a little bit of an idea potentially of what they might be thinking, but we’re not going to spend huge amounts of time planning for a certain individual in a certain position when we’re pretty aware that can change right up until kickoff.”

The remainder of the side is settled. Captain Kolisi leads the loose trio alongside du Toit and Wiese for what will be a record-breaking 18th Test start as a combination, surpassing the 17 they currently share with the trio of Francois Louw, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen. Etzebeth partners Ruan Nortje in the second row and will extend his all-time caps record to 145. In the backline, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach continue at half-back, with de Allende and Kriel in midfield and Hooker retaining the left wing.

The bench is unchanged from Cape Town’s eventual matchday selection, with Fourie, Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit providing front-row impact, de Jager offering second-row and lineout depth, and Esterhuizen and Hanekom covering the loose forwards. Van den Berg and Libbok are the two replacement backs.

Saturday’s venue adds a layer of occasion. FNB Stadium, which can hold up to 94,500 spectators, has hosted the Springboks against the All Blacks only twice before — in 2010 and 2012 — with New Zealand winning both. It will be the first Test between the sides at the ground in 14 years.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB Stadium, where on a good day there is an 80,000-strong crowd, and that will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never run onto the field there,” Erasmus said. “With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion.”

With the series level at 1-1 and Saturday’s result potentially giving the winner a decisive 2-1 lead ahead of the finale in Baltimore, the stakes could hardly be higher. Erasmus expected another bruising encounter.

“This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series, which will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw,” he said. “Make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series.”

Springboks:
15. Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers, 52 caps)
14. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars, 33 caps)
13. Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, 92 caps)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights, 101 caps)
11. Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 11 caps)
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers, 22 caps)
9. Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers, 55 caps)
8. Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks, 47 caps)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz, 100 caps)
6. Siya Kolisi (c) (DHL Stormers, 105 caps)
5. Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears, 22 caps)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 144 caps)
3. Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers, 33 caps)
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears, 91 caps)
1. Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 50 caps)

Replacements:
16. Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers, 14 caps)
17. Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls, 21 caps)
18. Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 35 caps)
19. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights, 75 caps)
20. Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 33 caps)
21. Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls, 4 caps)
22. Morne van den Berg (Lions, 8 caps)
23. Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners, 32 caps)

Match details: South Africa v New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg/Soweto. Saturday 5 September, 17:10 (local time). Live on SuperSport.

International

Wallabies hold tough to upset Pumas as Kiss winning run continues

Published

6 days ago

30th August 2026

rugbyisthegame

Wallabies hold tough to upset Pumas as Kiss winning run continues

Australia's Fraser McReight during the 2025 Quilter Nations Series game between Italy and Australia in Bluenergy Stadium, Udine, Italy, Saturday, November 8, 2025 (Photo by Roberto Bregani / Inpho)

The Wallabies maintained their winning run under Les Kiss with a gritty 27-21 victory over Argentina at Estadio 23 de Agosto in San Salvador de Jujuy, extending their streak to four consecutive wins for the first time since 2021 in what was the toughest examination of the new coaching era to date.

Key moments

7 mins – TRY AUSTRALIA: The Wallabies’ forward pack produces wonderful handling on the left, with Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams breaking into the 22 before Williams pops a pass to the supporting Paenga-Amosa, who reaches out to ground the ball on the line. Lonergan misses the conversion from wide. (Argentina 0–5 Australia)

11 mins – TRY AUSTRALIA: Australia go close from a rolling maul under penalty advantage before Gordon takes the short side and crashes through contact to score. Lonergan converts. (Argentina 0–12 Australia)

14 mins – TRY ARGENTINA: Argentina strike back with a slick set-piece move. Rodrigo Isgró hits a gap with a lovely inside ball from Santiago Carreras, and Prisciantelli glides over two phases later. Carreras converts. (Argentina 7–12 Australia)

20 mins – TRY AUSTRALIA: The Wallabies continue to dominate the set piece, winning back-to-back maul penalties to camp on Argentina’s line. McReight burrows over from close range, turning his body to find space. Lonergan converts. (Argentina 7–19 Australia)

25 mins – YELLOW CARD AUSTRALIA: Harry Potter is sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-down after Argentina threaten to break through the defensive line.

37 mins – TRY ARGENTINA: Moro takes a quick tap from a free kick at the scrum and powers through two Australian defenders to score just left of the posts. Carreras converts. (Argentina 14–19 Australia)

40+2 mins – PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Lonergan slots a penalty from almost directly in front after Argentina are caught offside. (Argentina 14–22 Australia)

Half-time: Argentina 14–22 Australia. A dominant opening quarter from the Wallabies who raced to a 19-7 lead before Argentina struck back. The visitors’ forward pack was outstanding at the set piece, winning crucial lineout steals and maul penalties. Potter’s yellow card allowed Moro to crash over, but Lonergan’s late penalty restored a two-score advantage at the interval.

44 mins – Ryan Lonergan makes a desperate covering tackle on Prisciantelli near the try line but injures himself in the process. Replaced by Tate McDermott.

48 mins – TRY DISALLOWED ARGENTINA: Prisciantelli appears to score his second after Argentina counter-attack from a Wallabies knock-on, but the TMO identifies a forward pass from scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz. Australia scrum.

52 mins – TRY ARGENTINA: Argentina win back-to-back penalties on the Australian line and opt for the tap and go each time. Wenger eventually drives low and gets the ball down from close range. Carreras converts. One-point game. (Argentina 21–22 Australia)

55 mins – TRY AUSTRALIA: The Wallabies strike right back. Paisami breaks into the 22 with a brilliant second effort, Gordon carries closer to the line, and Hooper hits a pass at pace to reach out and score just left of the posts for his maiden Test try. Donaldson misses the conversion. Gordon departs with a suspected head knock. (Argentina 21–27 Australia)

71 mins – TRY DISALLOWED AUSTRALIA: Jeremy Williams appears to score from a rolling maul under penalty advantage, but drops the ball as he attempts to ground it. Australia reload with a 5-metre scrum.

72 mins – HELD UP: McDermott takes a quick tap from a short-arm penalty and flies at the line but is held up by desperate Argentine defenders. Argentina dropout.

76 mins – TURNOVER AUSTRALIA: Argentina launch an attack inside the 22 but McReight gets over the ball to win a crucial ruck penalty and relieve the pressure.

80+1 mins – Argentina lose possession in contact after Suaalii’s break sets up a final Australian attack. McDermott boots the ball into touch to seal the victory.

Full-time: Argentina 21–27 Australia

Australia scored four tries to three and never trailed, but this was far from comfortable. Argentina closed to within a point at 22-21 early in the second half before Tom Hooper’s maiden Test try restored a six-point buffer, and the Wallabies then had to survive a nerve-shredding final 25 minutes at altitude — including a disallowed Jeremy Williams try, a Tate McDermott held-up effort, and desperate late scramble defence — to seal only Argentina’s second defeat at this ground.

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In front of 22,904 spectators, it was the Wallabies’ forward pack that again proved the difference. The locking pair of Josh Canham and Williams were outstanding, Rob Valetini was a force at number eight in the rested Harry Wilson’s absence, and flanker Fraser McReight — named Player of the Match — produced two crucial late turnovers to snuff out Argentina’s hopes of a grandstand finish.

The visitors flew out of the blocks in the thin mountain air, racing to a 12-0 lead inside 11 minutes. The opening try was a thing of beauty from the forwards: Canham broke the line from deep and found Williams with a switch of play, the lock running hard before offloading to the supporting hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who reached out to ground the ball on the line. Four minutes later, the Wallabies struck again from a lineout drive under penalty advantage, with Carter Gordon taking the short side and carrying his defender over the line.

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Argentina hit back quickly through a slick set-piece move that saw Rodrigo Isgró burst through a clean gap off a Santiago Carreras inside ball, with fullback Gerónimo Prisciantelli finishing two phases later to cut the deficit to five. But the Wallabies’ set-piece dominance continued to yield rewards, with McReight burrowing over from close range in the 20th minute after back-to-back maul penalties had pinned the hosts on their own line.

At 19-7, the Wallabies appeared in command, but the contest swung when Harry Potter was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-down. The winger knew immediately, jogging straight from the field without waiting for the card. Australia defended desperately with 14 men, holding out several raids on their line, but Argentina’s persistence told moments after Potter’s return when number eight Joaquín Moro took a quick tap from a scrum free kick and powered through two tackles to score.

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Ryan Lonergan’s penalty from almost directly in front after the siren sounded pushed the lead back to eight at half-time, a crucial three points that ensured Australia went into the break with a two-score advantage at 22-14.

The second half began ominously for the visitors. Lonergan was injured making a desperate try-saving tackle on Prisciantelli and was replaced by McDermott, while a long-range Argentine counter-attack that ended with Prisciantelli diving over was denied by the TMO for a forward pass from scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz. Kiss later cleared Lonergan of serious injury, revealing the halfback had been battling the flu all week and was always expected to exit early.

Argentina’s pressure eventually told in the 52nd minute when loosehead Boris Wenger drove over from close range after the hosts won back-to-back penalties on the Australian line. Carreras’s conversion made it 21-22 — a one-point game and suddenly anyone’s to win.

The Wallabies responded superbly. Hunter Paisami broke into the 22 with a brilliant carry and second effort, Gordon ran hard closer to the line, and Hooper hit a pass at pace to reach out and score just left of the posts for his first try in Test rugby. Ben Donaldson, on for Gordon who departed with a suspected head knock, sliced the conversion wide, keeping Argentina within six at 21-27.

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What followed was 25 minutes of tension. Williams appeared to have scored from a rolling maul in the 71st minute under penalty advantage, but dropped the ball as he attempted to ground it. McDermott then took a quick tap from a short-arm penalty and was held up over the line by desperate Argentine defenders. At the other end, McReight produced a vital turnover at the breakdown with five minutes remaining to deny Argentina a final attacking platform, before another knock-on from the hosts in the dying seconds allowed McDermott to boot the ball into touch and seal the victory.

“We weren’t perfect for sure, but we really fought hard for each other and fought hard to stay in the game under the best terms that we can,” Kiss said. “They’re a dangerous side and at times they put us under pressure. We had to find connection and had to find a way to make sure we could absorb it, but still stay in the right mindset.

“Talking to Al and Fraser afterwards, there was a certain strong calmness on the pitch. We didn’t let the pressure get on top of us and weigh us down. Being able to stay in front of those little errors in our game that just offered them opportunities, I think, is a testament to the boys’ character for sure.”

Stand-in captain Alaalatoa, who led the side in Wilson’s absence, spoke about the challenges of playing in a hostile environment. “It was tough conditions — a bit of altitude, a hostile environment with a passionate crowd in Argentina,” he said. “It was probably the first time a few of our boys have experienced that type of atmosphere being over here.

“We speak about care a lot and that is massive when you’re away from home. Only 23 players, we’ve got players in the stands who contributed all week. We’ve got our staff, and it’s just us against everyone else in the stadium. I thought we were great in those moments, especially when things didn’t go our way.”

McReight, who finished the match as captain after Alaalatoa’s departure, was equally proud. “It was a back and forth sort of match,” he said. “Argentina were really good and we were poor in some areas, just really proud of the group and happy we got the win over here. I am really happy with the way the group was able to rebound from a mistake, come back quickly and gather ourselves. We are building.”

The series now moves to Mendoza for the second Test on 6 September, where the Wallabies have the chance to claim the Puma Trophy for the first time since 2022. Kiss is expected to rotate again, with Wilson, Taniela Tupou, Len Ikitau and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto among those likely to come back into contention.

Teams

Argentina: 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 8 Joaquín Moro, 7 Benjamín Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Boris Wenger.
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Rodrigo Martínez, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Nicolás Roger, 23 Matías Moroni.

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Isaac Kailea.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Charlie Cale, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Match details

Argentina 21 (Tries: Prisciantelli, Moro, Wenger; Conversions: Carreras 3/3)
Australia 27 (Tries: Paenga-Amosa, Gordon, McReight, Hooper; Conversions: Lonergan 2/3, Donaldson 0/1; Penalties: Lonergan 1/1)
Half-time: 14–22
Attendance: 22,904

Venue: Estadio 23 de Agosto, San Salvador de Jujuy (1,200m above sea level)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: Fraser McReight (Australia)

International

Springboks outmuscle All Blacks in Cape Town to level series

Published

6 days ago

30th August 2026

rugbyisthegame

Springboks outmuscle All Blacks in Cape Town to level series

South Africa Siya Kolisi reacts after scoring a try during the All Blacks v South Africa second test match, Rugbys Greatest Rivalry, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, 29 August 2026. (Photo by Nic Bothma / action press)

The Springboks produced a ferocious response to their first Test humiliation, beating the All Blacks 33-26 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town to level the Greatest Rivalry series at one-all. Cheslin Kolbe’s 18-point haul — four penalties and three conversions — proved the difference as the world champions outscored the tourists three tries to four but controlled the match for long periods through sheer physicality and set-piece dominance. It was head coach Dave Rennie’s first defeat in nine matches in charge of the All Blacks.

Key moments

1 min – Springboks set the tone. Jordie Barrett fields the kick-off and punts straight to touch. Springbok lineout inside the All Blacks’ 22. Rolling maul drives the tourists back 15 metres. Deon Fourie and Siya Kolisi carry with venom.

2 mins – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Jesse Kriel hits a sublime line off a Cobus Reinach pass and crashes over after the opening maul had pinned the All Blacks deep. Kolbe converts. (South Africa 7–0 All Blacks)

15 mins – TRY ALL BLACKS: Will Jordan leaves both Springbok centres clutching at shadows on a devastating break before releasing Cam Roigard, who races under the posts untouched. Love converts. (South Africa 7–7 All Blacks)

18 mins – PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA: Kolbe kicks a penalty after the All Blacks are penalised at the breakdown. (South Africa 10–7 All Blacks)

25 mins – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Damian de Allende powers through three All Blacks tacklers to score. A trademark show of brute force from the centre. Kolbe converts. (South Africa 17–7 All Blacks)

33 mins – TRY ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie scores after Ardie Savea charges onto a ball from Roigard and runs into space. The All Blacks work the ball through the line and McKenzie uses his speed to finish. Love converts. (South Africa 17–14 All Blacks)

35 mins – Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx come on for South Africa. Fresh front-row firepower for the Springboks as they press for a half-time cushion.

37 mins – TRY SOUTH AFRICA: Siya Kolisi powers over from a pick-and-go after the Springboks work the ball across the field from a lineout. Kolbe converts. (South Africa 24–14 All Blacks)

Half-time: South Africa 24–14 All Blacks. A ferocious first half from the Springboks, who made their intentions clear from the opening seconds. Three tries to two, with Kolisi’s score on the stroke of half-time giving the hosts a ten-point cushion. The Springboks’ physicality at the collision was relentless. Jordan’s break for Roigard’s try and McKenzie’s counter offered glimpses of the All Blacks’ threat, but they were too often on the back foot.

48 mins – PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA: Kolbe kicks a penalty after the All Blacks are penalised at the breakdown. (South Africa 27–14 All Blacks)

50 mins – PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA: Kolbe kicks his third penalty. (South Africa 30–14 All Blacks)

60 mins – Etzebeth steals crucial lineout. The All Blacks produce a superb 14-phase passage of play and win a penalty to kick for the corner. But Eben Etzebeth steals the lineout to relieve the pressure. A defining moment.

62 mins – PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA: Kolbe kicks his fourth penalty to extend the lead to 19 points. (South Africa 33–14 All Blacks)

65 mins – TRY ALL BLACKS: Jordan takes a Springbok box kick and runs ahead to set up the ruck. The All Blacks move the ball across the field and Leroy Carter is given room to wind up his sprint and race over in the corner. Love’s conversion misses. (South Africa 33–19 All Blacks)

76 mins – TRY ALL BLACKS: Will Jordan finds space on the right wing but is tackled short. The ball is moved back across the field where Ardie Savea scores, with Patrick Tuipulotu driving him over the line. Love converts. (South Africa 33–26 All Blacks)

79 mins – YELLOW CARD SOUTH AFRICA: Lood de Jager sin-binned for head-on-head contact on Leroy Carter. Springboks down to 14 for the final moments.

80+2 mins – Esterhuizen seals it. The All Blacks clear the ball to near halfway and probe from a lineout, but Andre Esterhuizen wins a crucial turnover at a tackle on Will Jordan. The Springboks hold on.

Full-time: South Africa 33–26 All Blacks. Series level 1–1.

Ardie Savea had warned all week that the Springboks were a “wounded beast.” He was right. From the opening seconds, when Siya Kolisi and Deon Fourie charged into contact as if their lives depended on it, the outcome of this second Test felt inevitable. The world champions had come to Cape Town humiliated and desperate, and they delivered the response their coaching staff demanded with a performance built on unrelenting physicality, disciplined kicking and a refusal to let the All Blacks play the game on their terms.

The match was effectively decided in the opening 62 minutes. The Springboks led from the second minute to the final whistle, and while the All Blacks outscored them four tries to three, Kolbe’s boot ensured the hosts never relinquished control. His four penalties — three of them the only points South Africa scored in the second half — were the difference between the sides, punishing an All Blacks penalty count that once again proved their Achilles heel on tour.

“You can’t let the Springboks get ahead like that in the first two minutes and I think we were just chasing the game,” Savea said afterwards. “But I’m very proud of the boys — we stuck in there, we fought, but we came up short.”

The Springboks’ start was as explosive as anything produced in this series. Jordie Barrett fielded the kick-off and punted straight to touch just beyond the 22-metre line — a decision that handed the hosts a lineout in prime attacking territory. Fourie, starting at hooker in a late change from the originally named lineup, found his jumper and the Springboks’ maul rumbled 15 metres backwards. From the resulting phase play, Kolisi and Fourie carried with venom before Cobus Reinach fired a flat pass for Jesse Kriel to slice through on a sublime line and score under the posts. Kolbe converted and the Springboks led 7-0 inside two minutes.

The All Blacks were rattled but found their composure in the 15th minute through a moment of individual brilliance from Will Jordan. From a lineout, the ball was played off the back with Ruben Love and Barrett using double pumps to draw defenders before Jordan received the ball wide. The wing left both de Allende and Kriel clutching at shadows with a devastating break before releasing Cam Roigard in support, and the halfback raced under the posts untouched. Love converted and the tourists were level at 7-7.

Kolbe restored the Springboks’ advantage three minutes later with the first of his four penalties, and from the restart the hosts tightened the screw. De Allende, who would finish with an extraordinary 18 tackles and 10 carries, powered through three tacklers to score the Springboks’ second. It was a trademark display of brute force from the 34-year-old centre, who embodied everything the Springboks brought to this contest. Kolbe converted for 17-7.

The All Blacks pulled back to 17-14 through McKenzie, who finished off a move initiated by Savea’s charge onto a Roigard pass. The number eight ran into space before the ball was worked through the hands for the fullback to use his pace to slide over. Love converted and the tourists were back in the hunt. But the momentum was short-lived. Three minutes before half-time, the Springboks drove the All Blacks off a lineout and worked the ball across the field for Kolisi to power over from close range. It was the captain’s first try in the series, and Kolbe’s conversion gave the hosts a 24-14 cushion at the break.

Kolisi’s try, coming just minutes after the introduction of Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche from the bench, underlined the Springboks’ clever use of their reserves. Rassie Erasmus’s decision to make his first front-row changes before half-time injected fresh energy at precisely the right moment, and the impact bench continued to deliver throughout the second half.

“He’s an experienced coach and he’ll feel what we felt last week,” Erasmus said of his counterpart.

The second half belonged to Kolbe’s right boot and the Springboks’ suffocating defence. Penalties in the 48th and 50th minutes extended the lead to 30-14, and while the All Blacks produced a superb 14-phase passage of play that earned a penalty and a lineout deep in the Springboks’ 22, Eben Etzebeth — imperious throughout — stole the throw and South Africa cleared. It was a defining moment. When Kolbe landed his fourth penalty to make it 33-14, the match appeared beyond the tourists.

The All Blacks, to their immense credit, refused to surrender. Jordan took a Springbok box kick cleanly and ran ahead to set up the ruck before the ball was shifted across the field. On the far touchline, Carter was given room to wind up his sprint and the winger did the rest, racing over in the 65th minute. Love’s conversion drifted wide but the deficit was back to 14.

The tourists pushed again with 76 minutes on the clock. Jordan found space on the right but was hauled down short, and when the ball was recycled back across the field, Savea was driven over the line by replacement lock Tuipulotu. Love converted from wide and suddenly the All Blacks were within seven at 33-26 with four minutes remaining.

“The boys hung in there and almost stole the game away,” Savea said. “I guess we’ve got to fix up little areas in our game and not let the Springboks get into our 22 or rack points up in threes to put pressure on us.”

Into the final minute, de Jager was sin-binned for head-on-head contact on Carter, leaving the Springboks with 14 men for the closing moments. The All Blacks cleared to near halfway for a lineout and probed desperately for the equalising score, but Esterhuizen produced a crucial turnover at a tackle on Jordan and the Springboks held on.

“It’s really small margins,” Rennie said. “For all the pressure we were under tonight we lost by seven. What we know is we can create opportunities and we can score.”

The statistics told a fascinating story. The All Blacks enjoyed 57 per cent possession, made 154 carries to 104, achieved eight line breaks to five and made 246 passes to 93. But they missed 26 tackles to the Springboks’ 39, and the visitors’ greater ambition with ball in hand was consistently nullified by the ferocity of the home defence. The scrum, which had been such a concern in the first Test, was significantly more competitive — the All Blacks achieved 100 per cent on their own feed while South Africa managed just 75 per cent — but the Springboks found other avenues to build pressure, particularly through Kolbe’s kicking game.

New Test centurion Pieter-Steph du Toit, who captained the side in his 100th Test, broke the Springbok hoodoo of losing when celebrating a milestone cap. Kolisi’s return from a hamstring injury was seamless, the flanker’s physicality and leadership transforming the home side’s energy from the first whistle. Simon Parker was one of the few All Blacks forwards to match the Springboks’ intensity, earning praise for a tireless display on debut in the six jersey.

The defeat was Rennie’s first in charge, ending a run of eight consecutive victories stretching back to the Nations Championship in July. The series now moves to FNB Stadium in Johannesburg for the third Test next Saturday, with the fourth and final Test in Baltimore a fortnight later. With the series locked at one-all, everything is still to play for.

“We’ve got to be better,” Savea said. “We’ve got to fix up our start. We’ve got to fix up our discipline. But this series is not over. We know what we’re capable of and we’ll be ready next week.”

Teams

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Handre Pollard.

All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.

Match details

South Africa 33 (Tries: Kriel, de Allende, Kolisi; Conversions: Kolbe 3/3; Penalties: Kolbe 4/4)
All Blacks 26 (Tries: Roigard, McKenzie, Carter, Savea; Conversions: Love 3/4)
Half-time: 24–14 (South Africa)

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 55,000 (sold out)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Series: Level 1–1