South Africa stuns New Zealand 33-26 in Cape Town to hand All Blacks first loss of 2026

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa gave New Zealand its first defeat of the year by 33-26 and evened their four-test series at 1-1 at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The Springboks, over the whitewash in just the second minute, scored all three of their tries in the first half to build a pressure-inducing 24-14 lead by halftime.

Goalkicker Cheslin Kolbe converted them all plus four penalties to keep his side in control on the scoreboard. Kolbe was named the player of the match. He has made all 11 of his shots at the posts in the series.

New Zealand scored more tries — four — but struggled against the rush defense, in the breakdowns and lineouts.

The scrum was the primary hotspot in the first test but it was the lineout where South Africa made a big difference. Lineout mauls platformed two of their tries, and three attacking throw-ins by the All Blacks were spoiled by Eben Etzebeth, who made one steal.

The teams return to Johannesburg for the third test next Saturday.

The All Blacks came into the match still perfect under new coach Dave Rennie after wins in four tests and four matches against South African franchises, but they were set back in Cape Town after just 102 seconds.

South Africa mauled a lineout for 15 meters into the New Zealand 22 and forwards Deon Fourie, Jasper Wiese and Siya Kolisi crashed up and center Jesse Kriel crashed over beside the posts.

From a midfield lineout, quick hands by New Zealand released winger Will Jordan, who slipped tackles by Kriel and Damian de Allende and put scrumhalf Cam Roigard in.

An offside penalty was slotted by Kolbe, who also converted a try by de Allende that began from another 15-meter lineout maul. South Africa led 17-7.

New Zealand's Jordie Barrett just missed a chargedown try but an Ardie Savea break off the back of a lineout led to fullback Damian McKenzie angling untouched into the right corner. The gap was back to three again after 30 minutes.

Kolbe made up for a shanked line kick when he chased a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu chip and forced a five-meter scrum in the 36th.

Boks coach Rassie Erasmus immediately replaced Fourie, the oldest Springbok test player at 39, and loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp with Malcolm Marx, the 2025 world player of the year, and Ox Nché, playing his 50th test. New Zealand held but South Africa played quick pick and goes and Kolisi busted through to help his side lead 24-14 into halftime.

After the break, New Zealand gave away penalties, including two turnovers by Marx, and Kolbe kicked South Africa 30-14 ahead with 30 minutes to go.

It took New Zealand nearly 20 minutes to reply when winger Leroy Carter darted in. Savea’s 33rd test try and Love's extras gave New Zealand a sniff, boosted by a yellow card to South Africa lock Lood de Jager.

But in the final attack after the fulltime hooter, Jordan was overturned by South Africa's Cameron Hanekom.

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